A first-of-its-kind renal dialysis clinic has opened in remote Central Australia, a region where one in 100 people are in need of the treatment amid a growing diabetes and kidney disease epidemic.
A first-of-its-kind renal dialysis unit has opened in Coober Pedy , allowing First Nations patients access to treatment closer to home.
But as of this month, Ms Dodd is now finally able to receive treatment for severe kidney disease on her country.The newly opened four-chair dialysis unit in the remote South Australian town of Coober Pedy is the first to open under the Commonwealth's $73 million package for up to 30 similar facilities for First Nations people across the country.
"We think that by having dialysis units like this and being able to demystify dialysis, and having really honest conversations with people about the things that they can do for their families not to need dialysis, is also really important."Dialysis is an essential treatment for people with end stage kidney disease, which can otherwise only be treated with a kidney transplant.
There is a growing diabetes and kidney disease epidemic in Central Australia where one in 100 people are on dialysis. "So in the meantime, we are focusing on helping people to get back to where they need to be and sucking the juice out of every day with their kids and their grandkids on country."Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health Malarndirri McCarthy attended the opening of the Coober Pedy unit this week, which she said would increase the likelihood of patients accessing treatment while remaining connected to their community and family.
"They say: 'This is where I want to die,' and that's how real it is for people who are faced with this dreadful disease."After six years of meetings and consultation, she's glad the facility has become a reality.
Epidemic Indigenous Aboriginal Remote Communities Central Australia NT Northern Territory Darwin Alice Springs Katherine Tennant Creek Renal Dialysis Health Care Facilities Coober Pedy
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