Charity golf tourney seeks sponsors

Western Bureau :The organisers of the Swing & Save A Life Charity Golf Tournament, which will be staged on August 4 to generate funds to benefit the Haemodialysis Unit at the Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH), are now seeking sponsorship to support the event.

The sponsorship packages on offer include one for the first-place finisher, valued at $200,000, and one for second place, valued at $130,000.

"You (the entity or organisation) will have the opportunity to greet and welcome all tournament attendees at registration as well as at the award ceremony," stated a press release from the organisers of the event. "You will be allowed to provide a brief overview of your company and services, and your company logo will be featured on the front of podium during the awards ceremony."

The Haemodialysis Unit at the Montego Bay-based hospital was opened in April 1998 with the objective of addressing the problem of inadequate treatment options for patients diagnosed with end-stage renal failure. The need for such a unit, especially in western Jamaica, was unquestionable as only the Kingston Public Hospital was offering dialysis care at the time.

GENESIS

The unit started with five dialysis machines and a staff complement of eight health professionals, which included five registered nurses, two dialysis technicians, and a nephrologist. This made it possible for 10 patients to be dialysed on a weekly basis.

Since its inception, the unit has grown significantly and currently utilises 18 dialysis machines and a staff complement of 19 health professionals.

The funding generated from the golf tournament is expected to play a critical role in terms of the expansion plans for the Haemodialysis Unit, which includes the relocation of the unit to a larger area and the replacement of old Fresenius dialysis machines with new machines or used machines in better condition.

"The dialysis centre at CRH is critical for preserving the life of over 120 Jamaicans," a release from the organisers of the golf tournament stated. "This is done with limited resources, and the management team looks forward to the support of the community and stands willing to embrace partnerships with the private and public sectors, donors, and non-governmental organisations ."

Being one of the largest such facilities in the Caribbean region, the Haemodialysis Unit at the Cornwall Regional Hospital is being seriously challenged in terms of meeting the health-care needs of patients. The major obstacle faced at this time is inadequate machines in the unit to accommodate all patients requiring haemodialysis.