“Patients now have hemodialysis in human conditions!” Mirko Tuba, president of the association of patients on dialysis and kidney transplant in Western Serbia. The Užice Hospital serves a population 0f 350,000 people. The hospital hemodialysis center treats approximately 90 patients every day.
For the majority of patient receiving treatment, this center is like their second house. Each patient spends an average of 12 hours every week, all year round for many years. Unfortunately, the center had not been remodeled since its creation in the 70s and the conditions for patients and workers had reached an advanced state of disrepair and had become frankly inhumane.
All that not only compromised the health of patients, but also took away the dignity and happiness of all people involved, including health care providers. In a record time period of two months between November and December 2022, SAMA completely rebuild and refurnished the unit, including bathroom, doctors room and treatment units. A brand new ultrasound device and defibrillator were also donated.
List of work items completed:
- Replacing leaky sewer pipes
- Remodeling of nonfunctional bathrooms and patient wardrobe
- Replacement of ceiling
- Replacement of floors
- Resurfacing of walls
- Repair and replacement of electrical circuit and lighting.
- Donation of 22 new hospital beds, including weighing beds (for patients unable to stand) along with furniture.
- EKG
- Ultrasound with vascular and abdominal probes.
April 27, 2023, Zoran Mladenović, Branko Palikuća and Daniel Jankovic met with Dr Dragan Ječmenica, head of the neprology and dialysis department of the hospital, and Dr. Vanja Rangelov, head of the dialysis section. We also talked to patient Mirko Tuba who is the head of dialysis patient organization. He was very appreciative of all the improvement, in particular new beds and mattresses.
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