Dialysis patient donates wheelchairs to unit |07 January 2022
A souvenir photograph: (l to r) Mrs Morel, Mr Morel, Ms Sinon, Mr Goswami and Ms Pierre (Photo: Kelly Jean-Charles)
Businessman and dialysis patient Percy Morel and his wife Denise have donated five brand new wheelchairs to the dialysis unit at the Seychelles Hospital, which are to benefit dialysis patients undergoing treatment daily at the facility.
The couple officially handed over the equipment yesterday morning to operations manager of AMSA Renal Care, Miladri Goswami, nurse manager Elsia Sinon and nurse Line Pierre.
Mr Morel, who has himself been undergoing dialysis for 24 years, says he is happy to give back and assist the health services in remedying the shortage of wheelchairs, to the benefit of others who use the facility.
“Normally, every year I try to do something. In 2019 we managed to make a donation but we were unable to do so in 2020 due to Covid-19. However, we managed to do it in 2021. Despite the slight lateness, this is our Christmas gift to the unit,” Mr Morel said.
“I have been on dialysis for 24 years and this place is part of my home. I am very thankful for what the nurses here do for me to keep me going and strong. I am a businessman and I have the courage to keep working, so while my business is successful, I feel I should give back,” Mr Morel noted.
Mr Morel’s wife, Denise, is also a nurse at the unit, and sees first-hand the challenges faced on the unit on hectic days, as a result of the lack of wheelchairs. This can sometimes lead to delays and hold-ups as many patients requiring dialysis are not mobile, and need assistance to get around the treatment room, and beyond.
“It is of great help to us and the patients as many of our patients are not mobile, and we also have many patients who arrive through ambulance. It causes a delay in our treatment for patients who are waiting for wheelchairs as many are not in a good state and not comfortable for our patients, so it is a great relief to us and we thank Mr and Mrs Morel for the donation. I am sure that their gesture will be much appreciated by the patients themselves too,” nurse Pierre noted.
The dialysis facility can accommodate up to 80 patients per day, and on some days operates to full capacity. According to both Ms Pierre and Mrs Morel, more and more people are turning up in need of dialysis, from as young as thirty years old.
Laura Pillay
