Health Minister expects new dialysis centre to open next April [1]
Friday, August 4, 2023 - 23:21. Updated on Monday, August 7, 2023 - 12:03.
By Katalina Siasau
A new dialysis centre under construction in Tonga, is expected to be completed in April next year, the Minister of Health, Hon Dr Saia Piukala, said today.
There are about 50 patients in Tonga who urgently need the dialysis treatment and they will be the first to get treatments, when the dialysis centre opens, he told a media briefing at the Prime Minister's Office
The Ministry of Health this morning marked the completion of the foundation for the first dialysis centre building in Tonga, built in a partnership with the Siaosi Brown Dialysis Foundation from Salt Lake City, who funded the construction.
The lack of a dialysis facility was a big issue for Tongans who were not able to travel abroad for dialysis treatment.
"In the previous years, MOH were not confident in facilitating a dialysis centre here in Tonga, due to lack of financial support and resources”, Dr Piukala said.
The Ministry of Health had started special training for specialist doctors, including Dr Sione Latu, Dr Viliami Tutone, and Dr Lupe Taumoepeau, based in New Zealand, to be ready for the dialysis centre.
The Prime Minister Hon. Hu'akavameiliku said, "The government is willing to work together with the Health department to make possible, free treatment for dialysis here in Tonga and make available to the public a free dialysis centre".
Peace Ark treats thousands
The PM confirmed there were 6,895 people (cases) treated by the medical teams from the Chinese medical ship ‘Peace Ark’, berthed in Nuku'alofa this week.
A total of 5,800 received treatment on the ship and 1,095 were treated by their ship's medical teams in villages and schools throughout Tongatapu. A total of 39 surgeries were also conducted on the ship.
A medical team flew to 'Eua by helicopter for 6 hours to provide treatment and admission of 333 people.
Dr Piukala said the large number of people seeking treatment from the Peace Ark medical ship was “record breaking”. Over 1000 people who turned up on the same day to get treatment for specific health issues and to get their health checked, were the largest number of people the ship had treated who turned up in a single day.
Peace Ark left the Vuna Wharf earlier today, 4 August, for Vanuatu and Samoa.
Quality Education
The Prime Minister said that a $5 million pa'anga budget from Global Partnership in Education (GPE) was confirmed earlier this morning for use towards quality education.
He said that the government and Ministry for Education aimed to improve and focus on quality education for Forms 3-7.
The budget will also help TIOE to promote quality education in teaching of a new syllabus.
The PM congratulated Tonga Tala for their outstanding placing so far in the Netball World Cup, wishing good luck for their upcoming game tonight with South Africa.