There are now at least 40 children aged 16 years and younger living with chronic kidney disease. Most are between four and nine years old, six of which are now on dialysis.
Without dialysis, children with kidney failure will die.
Because of the lack of dialysis, between 1985 and 2006, 30 of the 48 children diagnosed with chronic kidney failure died.
Each year, three to six children will be diagnosed with chronic kidney failure.
Among the causes of kidney failure in children are abnormal kidney since birth and acquiring kidney disease over time due to injury, inflammation or some form of disease.
Children may need temporary dialysis for acute kidney failure due to trauma, heart surgery, chemotherapy or acute kidney inflammation.
Dialysis for children younger than 12 years is only available at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI), where they have to share the facility and equipment with adults.
There are only three paediatric nephrologists in Jamaica.
There is a great need for more paediatric nephrologists, specialised nurses as well as dialysis/kidney treatment centres in Jamaica.
There is a great need for $80 million to construct a paediatric dialysis centre at the UHWI.
- Information provided by the Jamaica Kidney Kids Foundation Limited
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