The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) officially opened the doors of its $1.39 million new dialysis building at Moto’otua on yesterday.
The building was blessed by National Council of Churches (NCC) Chairman Rev. Aisoli Iuli.
Minister of Health Valasi Tafito Selesele said this service started in 2005 when there were only six dialysis patients and 11 machines, however, in the financial year 2009-2010 saw an increase to 50+ patients, and 11 more machines were installed.
The following year this service was extended to Tuasivi and at the moment there are 196 dialysis and 12 patients from overseas and this paints a bad picture of the health of our people.
With the new building, a total of 60 machines are available for dialysis treatment, said the Minister.
Regarding the project, which started in 2019 but was completed in 2021, the delay was due to covid-19 restrictions and the inability of engineers from Germany to travel to Samoa at that time to install the machines.
He said the construction of the building by All Electrical and Construction Ltd in the amount of $1.39 million.
The architecture for this project was handled by BBR in the amount of $60,000 and they also oversaw the project in the amount of $30,000.
