Three new renal dialysis units have been announced in remote Western Australia and Queensland which the federal government says will allow First Nations people with severe kidney disease better access to lifesaving treatment closer to their home, family, and Country.
The units, to be delivered to the Wakaid Tribal Council for Badu Island in Queensland, and the Pilbara Aboriginal Health Alliance for Tom Price and Ngangganawili Aboriginal Health Services for Wiluna, in WA, come as part of the federal government's $73.2 million investment in towards better renal services for Indigenous people.
Data shows First Nations adults are twice as likely and non-Indigenous people to have chronic kidney disease, and four times as likely to die from the ailment.
Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy said on Wednesday it was "absolutely critical" the renal dialysis units were closer to the homes of remote communities in Australia.
"This is a scourge of a disease that impacts so many First Nations families right across Australia," Senator McCarthy told ABC news radio.
"People on renal dialysis normally have to travel a long way from their home community and ultimately can never really return…as that Elder said, 'a lot of them return to pretty much die on Country.'"
Senator McCarthy's mother had to travel a 1000 km from her home Country of Borroloola to be looked after in Darwin when she needed kidney treatment, and the Labor senator said the travelling meant "we never were able to return her home to live on Country".
"When I travel Australia now to listen to the stories of First Nations families asking for these chairs in their remote areas, I can certainly understand fully the importance of that request," she said.
For patients with end-stage kidney disease, dialysis is essential and lifesaving. Without it, the only treatment is a kidney transplant.
The closer to home a patient is, the better support they receive, the government says, which in turn, improves their quality of life.
The committed funding will support up to 30 dialysis units to provide healthcare to First Nations people with end-stage kidney disease and sees units installed on six sites: Coober Pedy and Yalata in SA; Balgo in WA; and Atitjere (Harts Range), Borroloola, and Ti-Tree in the NT.
"Last month, we officially opened a new renal dialysis clinic in the remote outback town of Coober Pedy in South Australia," Ms McCarthy said in a statement.
"It was an emotional day for local people who up until now, have had to travel vast distances to get the lifesaving treatment they need.
"Dialysis saves lives. The new renal dialysis units in remote Queensland and Western Australia will help to reduce the distance patients have to travel to receive dialysis and ensure people receive the care they need while remaining on Country close to family and community.
"These units will make a significant difference to the lives of people needing dialysis and their families in Tom Price, Wiluna and Badu Island."
