One in ten Cypriot residents or 80,000 people will suffer from a kidney disorder in the foreseeable future– Professor Constantantinous Deltas, Head of the Society of Nephrology.
This specific genetic disorder exists in Cyprus which began in villages in the Marathasa region about 400 years ago. It will cause 40% of male patients with kidney disorder to end up on dialysis before they are 70 years old. Renal disease is rampant and is becoming epidemic on a global scale.
The Renal Unit is open to any nationality and we now find that an increase in patients is making it more difficult to treat all who need dialysis for the rest of their lives.
The Paphos Kidney Association wish to continue to aid this unit for as long as possible. Unfortunately in the economic climate, more patients have left the private sector to rely on the General Hospital, and in turn the Government are finding it difficult to supply all the equipment that is required.
Most patients on dialysis attend the Renal Unit three times a week where the dialysis machine cleans the patient’s blood and takes out the toxins that build up and artificially performs the same job as the kidneys, as well as regulate the potassium and electrolyte levels that are necessary for a relatively balanced life.
The Paphos Kidney Association is a non-profit making organisation formed in September 2000. Initially the Renal Unit had insufficient basic equipment such as oxygen masks, blood pressure monitors and didn’t even have a ‘crash’ trolley to deal with emergency situations. Originally we purchased this much needed equipment for the Renal Unit and over the more recent years have donated necessary equipment ranging from beds to the latest dialysis machines and finally bringing the Renal Unit to comply completely with EU Health and Safety Issues.
In 2014 we had raised sufficient funds to supply the first ultra modern Haemodiafiltration machine followed swiftly by a second. Now all machines in the unit are of the latest state of the art design which have the potential to reduce the mortality rate of patients on dialysis by an incredible 30%. Now all 14 machines are of the latest design.
The Paphos Kidney Association have recently purchased a new piece of equipment that will be the first on the island but at a cost of 38,000 euros including VAT. Having recently paid 22,000 euros for another piece of equipment, we have been left with very little funds due to covid. However I would like it known that our lawyers Michael Kyprianou are finalising with the Minister of Finance that we may be exempt the 6000 euros on this newest piece of equipment on this one occasion. Our thanks go out to everybody that has helped and is still supporting us.
Now things are changing with the construction of a new Renal Unit Extension that should be completed by October 2022.
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