The start of a medical service is always a novel issue, of popular interest and, of course, highly newsworthy in journalistic matters, especially when it comes to specialized care that will benefit and enhance the quality of life of those who will receive the new care and treatments.
The consolareña hemodialysis room – if we talk about the wide coverage and expectation that it has generated in the provincial population in recent months – is no longer news, but even so, we decided to approach once again this dream come true, to know the emotions of those who are there today.
With this report, Guerrilla tries to capture the moods and gratitude of some of the 40 patients, belonging to Los Palacios, La Palma and Consolación del Sur, who already receive their treatments.
SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE NEW ROOM
Inside the room, we were received by Dr. José Luis González Torrado, a first-degree specialist in nephrology, and head of the hemodialysis service in the territory.
During the course of the questions, the doctor talked about various aspects of interest.
“Today the service is made up of the three municipalities that everyone knows. This selection was carried out in accordance with a study carried out in previous years on chronic renal failure in the Pinar del Río province.
“Here we will have a total of 40 patients who will undergo dialysis every other day from Monday to Saturday. We are also going to have a physical nursing guard and nephrology specialists to provide 24-hour service. In other words, if in the early hours of the morning there is a patient with a specific condition that needs to be treated, then he will have that possibility ”.
González Torrado specified that the room will have two work shifts. The first will be from 7:30 am to 12:00 pm. After concluding, a prudential time will always be taken for the cleaning and disinfection of the areas, and then the second shift would begin, which would end around 5:00 pm.
“This is a service of small details. It is considered as a substitute service for renal function. For this, treated water is needed, as well as specific elements such as bicarbonate and acids to create the dialysis fluid.
“Then it is through an extracorporeal circuit that an exchange of the blood with the aforementioned liquid occurs and purification occurs in the well-known dialyzer or capillary, through strictly established physical-chemical mechanisms.
“Our patients will be on dialysis over a four-hour period, three times a week. This will allow them to have a better quality of life and less morbidity associated with the condition itself.”
Finally, the head of the room addressed that the treatment for both healthy people and those who are carriers of other diseases such as hepatitis or HIV is always the same. The only difference will be in the separation of cubicles to prevent cross infections.
THEY… THOSE WHO SUFFER AND THANK
A first look was enough to see on everyone’s faces, doctors and patients, the satisfaction of receiving wonderful care, both from a human and technological point of view.
Katiuska Martínez González, the youngest patient interviewed, expressed that for her, being able to dialyze so close is very advantageous.
“I have been on dialysis for about a year and I am really super happy to be able to count on this newly created service here in consolation. The proximity of this new hemodialysis room is all advantages for us.
“Both I and the rest of those who need it, believe that the conditions of this room – tell us about its state-of-the-art technology, the logistical and medical conditions, as well as the human capital – are enviable.
“For me, the journey from San Nicolás to the services in the provincial capital was exhausting. For a patient with our condition it is always an exhausting day.
“We are always grateful for the previous attention and care, but the number of patients associated with the provincial service sometimes made it difficult for us to connect upon arrival, or early departures. Here it is to arrive and the conditions are ready, the kidneys are waiting for us ”.
Elsa Lidia Gutiérrez praised the cleanliness and aesthetics of the place; she also spoke about the emotion that this dream was finally palpable.
“The work that has been done so that this room today provides services is commendable. We would like to thank the Provincial Health Directorate and our dependency for all the effort and efforts.
“Also our most sincere thanks to Dr. Thalía and our head nurse. We cannot fail to mention the exhaustive preparation that doctors José Luis and Lani underwent. They, like us, feel the service as theirs. We fully trust them, as they are an inseparable part of our family”.
Jorge Luis Millán García expressed his immense satisfaction.
“I think I speak for everyone when I say that the satisfaction we feel cannot be expressed in words. The setting up of this room opens a new path of humanism and beauty in the history of the municipality and its medical services.
“It is a very comfortable ward, with enviable conditions, especially due to the team of doctors and nurses. But most important of all, do you know what it is? Do you know what patients avoid just by being close? Do you know the savings that means for the country?
“With this room we all have a better quality of life and feel at home. We have been suffering from this condition for years and, of course, we are very familiar with the trajectory, work and performance of the doctors and nurses who care for us here today, who are our families more than health specialists.
“It only remains to say that this room is a major achievement of the Cuban revolution, of Fidel and of our current president Miguel Díaz Canel.”
