Women played a game of netball as part of local activities for last year’s observance of Caribbean Wellness Day. (Photo credit: The Ministry of Health and Social Development).

The Ministry of Health and Social Development will be airing the 17-minute educational video documentary “Dialysis in the Virgin Islands” on Saturday, September 11 at 7:45 p.m. on JTV Channel 55 as part of the Territory’s observance of Caribbean Wellness Day.

The documentary highlights some of the ways in which the Territory continues to be affected by the high number of patients who presently require dialysis treatment several times per week at the Peebles Hospital.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Social Development Mrs. Petrona Davies said the airing of Dialysis in the Virgin Islands is important to enlighten the public about the serious human and economic consequences of renal failure.

She also referenced the findings of the recently concluded STEPS health Risk Factor Survey, which revealed that 45.9 percent of the BVI population was classified as being at increased risk for chronic non-communicable diseases.

“When the video documentary airs, viewers will see that if the upwards drift continues in the number of new dialysis patients who are added each year, it would only be a matter of time before it becomes unsustainable for the Government to provide the service. It is therefore of great importance for us to continually emphasise the importance of prevention,” the Permanent Secretary said.