PROCAARE: RE: HIV POSITIVE MAN REFUSED CARE IN JAMAICA

["The Epidemiology Unit" <epidem@uwimona.edu.jm>]

We have verified that the Kingston Public Hospital, Kingston Jamaica and
the University Hospital of the west Indies have NOT refused any HIV
positive patient seeking dialysis over the past year.

Persons who are HIV positive client are offered continuous peritoneal
dialysis (CAPD).

It is to be noted that soon there will be another private facility like
Sunshine Dialysis Centre which will be based in Ocho Rios and offer
hemodialysis to HIV infected clients.

We invite the person(s) who placed the above captioned article on the
internet to write to us so that we can further investigate the allegation
as we monitor all instances where HIV infected patients are refused health
care or subjected to any kind of discrimation.
In such instances we intervene directly to ensure that discrimination does
not take place.

Reply to: epidem@uwimona.edu.jm
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Dear Mr. MacInnis:

I am a nurse in Florida.  I received a consultation on a dialysis patient
with HIV who wanted to return to his home country of Jamaica.  I called
all three dialysis centers in Jamaica.  They were willing to give him
follow-up dialysis on his return to Jamaica until they found out he was
HIV-positive.  They now say they could not provide him with dialysis.
I am reporting and communicating this for obvious reasons to see if
someone or some organization could put some type of pressure on the care
practioners in Jamaica for this questionable health practive.  The three
dialysis centers in Jamaica I contacted are:

1.      University Hospital of the West Indies
        Kingston 7, Jamaica, British West Indies
        Tel: 876-927-1620 (ask for Renal Unit)
        Fax: 809-927-1640 or 809-977-0691

2.      Kingston Public Hospital
        Tel: 876-922-0210

3.      Sunshine Dialysis Center
        8 Tangerine Place, Kingstonio
        Kingston, Jamaica
        British West Indies
        Tel: 809-968-3663
        Fax: 809-968-3662
I appreciate any effort you or anyone else is able to take on this matter.
Thank You.

Sincerely,

A concerned nurse in Florida

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