PM Terrance Drew launches Kidney Transplant Program at JNF Hospital

Prime Minister Terrance Drew has focused significantly on the health service in St Kitts and Nevis, particularly with respect to the JNF Hospital, in recent times. Previously, he praised the hospital for expanding its services by offering a wide range of eye surgeries and procedures made possible by the government’s procurement of world class equipment.

Now the Prime Minister was present for the launch of the JNF Hospital’s Kidney Transplant Program on November 24^th 2023.

The launch was also part of a special edition of ZIZ Radio and Television’s Health Wise programming. The show is hosted by JNF Hospital’s very own General Surgeon Dr. Joylette Woodley-Fassale, who also happens to be the President of the St Kitts and Nevis Medical and Dental Association, as well as the Head of Emergency Medical Services at JNF Hospital itself.

As a part of the opening ceremony, Prime Minister Terrance Drew reiterated the government’s commitment to providing accessible world class medical services to the citizens of St Kitts and Nevis.

He also spoke of the fact that diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and obesity are rising due too renal issues. Hence, PM Drew explained that the transplant services being provided improve the quality of life of patients significantly while also proving to be a cost-effective alternative to dialysis.

Prime Minister Terrance Drew had this to say during the opening ceremony, “What we are really doing here is to launch a program that will benefit the people of Saint Kitts and Nevis no matter where they live or their stead in life, as long as they need this type of medical care we want to make it available. We are seeing an increase in renal disease, and I will attribute that to some extent to chronic diseases as well, such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and the like. We know that renal transplant is the best option, we also know that renal transplant is cheaper, and associated with a better quality of life, and therefore we want to offer this to the people of Saint Kitts and Nevis.”

The Minister of Health was visibly elated with the development, adding that this would be the first time these services will be provided to the citizens of St Kitts and Nevis, making it a ground breaking advancement in the medical sector.

He also explained that the service was an essential one for those suffering from end stage renal complications.

Prime Minister Terrance Drew’s involvement in this initiative has been significant and he is seen as the driving force behind the recent enhancements to the nation’s medical apparatus. His conversations with leading medical minds such as Professor Nadey Hakim, a world renowned bariatric and transplant surgeon, Dr Hakim of the Imperial College of London and Dr Jensen Morten, who is the Director of Health Institutions at JNF Hospital, have led to him considering and curating the needs of the nation’s medical system and progressively approaching the issue in the most efficient manner possible.

Hence, through the concerted efforts of the government, with Prime Minister Terrance Drew at its helm, St Kitts and Nevis has and continues to transform the nation’s medical services to world class levels. By these means, the Caribbean nation has managed to improve the quality of life of its citizens significantly.