Hello Mr. Tufton,
I hope you’re well and having a good day. I see that you’re fighting the good fight with regards to COVID-19 and appreciate your efforts. I try my best to ‘tan a mi yard’ (as much as my work permits), wear my mask and wash my hands frequently.
On February 12, 2020 I was diagnosed with stage 5 kidney disease and had to have emergency dialysis. As a renal disease patient I try my best to stay protected. Which brings me to the reason for this letter. Renal disease patients in Jamaica are at a high disadvantage because of inadequate public health services available to them.
Public health facilities are full and very few people are able to afford private dialysis. A nephrologist charges on average $8,000 and up for just one visit. Clinics are also full and patients are guaranteed to spend an entire day at the hospital just waiting for care. Although I have been assigned a clinic I have never been to one because of the lengthy wait times. I do two dialysis treatments per week for 4 hours; how can I tell my boss that I now need additional time to sit at a clinic for the entire day? Yes it is my health but I need money to fund my health care!
Dialysis in Jamaica seems to be a privilege and a transplant seems to be next to a miracle. Transplants are not the norm in Jamaica. In previous years we could not even get people to donate blood. Through education we now have blood drives as often as we have 5K runs and walks. People need to be educated on organ donation and I am asking that government start conversations on this very important health initiative.
The National Health Fund and Drug Serv Pharmacies are awesome and I’m extremely grateful for the low cost prescription coverage available. The first two months of my diagnosis and treatment, I spent over $100,000.00 of my own money on dialysis medication alone. I was unable to get a refund from my health insurance provider, as I had reached the coverage limit of my policy. It was through this difficulty that I was told about the programme at the National Health Fund. I don’t believe our healthcare system is the worse but it does need major improvements. A lot of people in my position upon being diagnosed with kidney disease, left Jamaica and will never return because of the lack of adequate treatment.
I am a 33 year old single parent to a very smart teenage girl. I want to live to see her be the best she can be. I want to live! My entire life I’ve worked tirelessly to provide for my child and myself and this new health challenge is overwhelming. I am willing to meet with you to tell my story, to start conversations that can lead to positive changes for renal disease patients in Jamaica. At this point I am willing to tell my story to the entire Jamaica if it helps others.
P.S. Please support Kristina by donating to her GoFundMe Campaign.
Respectfully,
Kristina Anne Buckle
Kidney Warrior
876-798-6784
