Funds from Margit and Kjeld's foundation contribute to the upgrade of the dialysis clinic in Fanø
Thanks to a donation of 10,000 kroner from Fonden Sol og Strand by Margit and Kjeld, the Kidney Association has the opportunity to invest in new equipment that ensures the Kidney Association's dialysis clinic can continue to provide a modern service.
– We are really, really happy to have received this donation, which means we can invest in an advanced scale that can accommodate those with mobility issues and wheelchair users. For kidney patients to receive the proper treatment, it is extremely important that we are able to measure their precise weight, and now we have that opportunity, says Michael Buksti, who is the director of the Kidney Association.
For people suffering from a kidney disease that requires dialysis several times a week, it can be challenging and almost impossible to travel or take a vacation far from their usual hospital.
However, the Kidney Association's dialysis clinic in Fanø makes it possible to visit the beautiful island in the Wadden Sea while also attending to the life-saving dialysis.
Last year, the dialysis clinic, located in the health house in Nordby, completed more than 225 dialysis sessions.
– Our healthcare system is challenged in terms of resources, and it is not always that the nearest hospital has space for guest dialysis. Here, it is an advantage that we have a service like the dialysis clinic, which is used not only by Danish but also by German tourists, says Michael Buksti.
In addition to the dialysis clinic in Fanø, a similar service has been established at Skallerup Klit Holiday Center in North Jutland, and the plan is to open another dialysis clinic in Bornholm, which has been a request from several kidney patients.
- If all goes according to plan, we hope to open a clinic in Svaneke around the summer holidays, says Michael Buksti.
The Kidney Association receives funding for ongoing operations from the Social Authority, but this funding is not sufficient to cover the association's operating expenses. Therefore, the association relies on membership fees, grants, and donations from foundations to keep the finances in balance.
We are a patient association established to make a difference, and in addition to operating dialysis clinics, we have a number of other services and activities within the association. Among other things, we have around 8-900 conversations each month with kidney patients and their relatives who seek advice and guidance, says Michael Buksti.