SENATOR Paul A. Manglona last week asked Gov. Ralph DLG Torres to help dialysis patients from Tinian and Rota.
In his letter to the governor, Manglona said that with the American Rescue Plan Act funds still available, “I am respectfully writing this letter seeking your financial assistance to help Rota and Tinian end-stage renal disease patients and their escorts on Saipan cover their roundtrip airfare cost between Saipan and Rota and Tinian.”
The senator said ESRD or end-stage kidney disease or kidney failure, occurs when chronic kidney disease — the gradual loss of kidney function — reaches an advanced state. He said it is a life-altering disease, which has no cure and hemodialysis treatment is needed to sustain their life.
For patients with kidney issues, Manglona said traveling back home to Rota or Tinian several times a year to be with their families between treatments is financially overwhelming, most particularly in this Covid-19 pandemic era.
He is “humbly asking for the governor’s assistance” in providing $50,000 to help subsidize the travel costs for Rota and Tinian dialysis patients and their escorts.
“Our dialysis patients were forced to relocate to Saipan for hemodialysis treatment, laboratory tests, radiology and surgical procedures to assure adequate function of the equipment utilized and effectiveness of the treatment at the Commonwealth Health Care Corp.,” Manglona said, adding that the typical process takes about four to five hours for a single dialysis session, and the patients have to undergo this treatment almost every other day.
“I hope we can work together in making a difference for those individuals with kidney disease by improving their quality of life and keeping up their morale with occasional visits to their home island and families. Thank you so much for taking the time to consider this request. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me to discuss this matter further. I am looking forward to hearing from you,” Manglona said.
Paul A. Manglona
