By Alaina Aristide | Project Assistant
Happy Holidays from Nicaragua! The La Isla Foundation staff and volunteers recently celebrated Thanksgiving here and we have our gratitude for your support more in mind now than ever. Sincere thanks to each and every one of you. Without your support, our work would simply not be possible.
Our work to improve the quality of renal care for those affected by Chronic Kidney Disease of Non-Traditional Causes (CKDnT) is a marathon, not a sprint, and we continue to move forward. The planning stage of our Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) program evaluation project is coming to an end and we are excited to be closer to collecting data and carrying out the evaluation. Only with a thorough evaluation of the PD program in Chinandega will our research team be able to develop recommendations for necessary improvements to this life-sustaining treatment.
As we’ve highlighted before, this project is especially important because of its focus on treatment for those who need it right now. In a socio-economic context where transplant is not feasible, dialysis is the only life-sustaining treatment for those in the final stages of CKDnT. Without it, the patients dies.
I spoke recently with the principal investigator of the PD project about the current low survival rates on PD and he reminded me of the most basic value of dialysis. Even in its current state with much room for improvement, he emphasized that every week spent on dialysis is a huge success because for that patient it means another week of life that otherwise would not be afforded to them. This time is invaluable and emphasizes the overwhelming need to improve the PD program. Though not a cure, an improved PD program can be a life-extending solution for the thousands of men affected by CKDnT in Chinandega now.
Coming up on this holiday season, as you spend time with your loved ones, please reflect on and take pride in the fact that your generosity is helping improve the treatment that will allow these families to spend more precious time together.
We can not thank you enough for your continued support of our project.
Sincerely,
The La Isla Foundation Public Health Team
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