Dialysis patient donates to Haemodialysis Unit |12 January 2023

Mr Morel presents a walking stick to acting nurse manager of the Hemodialysis Unit, Flora Ahthion

A couple, Percy and Denise Morel, have donated five wheelchairs and six walking sticks to the Hemodialysis Unit at the Seychelles Hospital.

This took place during a short ceremony yesterday morning.

The sets of equipment was handed over to the principal nursing officer in the Health Care Agency, Elsia Sinon, the acting nurse manager of the Hemodialysis unit, Flora Ahthion and Niladri Goswami, who was representing AMSA Renal Care Seychelles, as dialysis treatment is offered in partnership with the centre.

Speaking to Seychelles NATION, Mr Morel, who has been a dialysis patient for over 25 years, expressed how he views the dialysis centre as a second home to him.

He has been a regular donor to the unit for years. “For me this is a small gesture, I’m still alive because of them so I try to give something back,” he said.

His wife, Denise Morel, who is also an employee of AMSA Renal Care Seychelles, said that she sees firsthand how patients struggle to get around and says that these donations will certainly benefit in facilitating patient mobility.

Each of the wheelchair costs R2000 and a walking stick is R200 each.

Mrs Sinon said the unit was badly in need of these equipment. “Unfortunately the wheelchairs we had were either stolen, taken to other wards or just misplaced, while the remaining few are broken, or missing pedals. We need wheelchairs every day for the patients so this is a huge help,” said Mrs Sinon.

To ensure they remain in the unit, she said they will be kept under lock and key.

There are presently 188 dialysis patients that require regular treatment at the unit.

Text & photos by Diane Larame