St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation launches a $10 million kidney care program

St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation is launching a new campaign aimed at supporting people living with or at risk of developing chronic kidney disease.

The $10 million By Your Side Kidney Care campaign focuses on three key areas:

• Providing early screening programs in communities at high risk for chronic kidney disease (CKD).
• Supporting holistic care services at St. Pauls’ Hospital, including an Indigenous healing center and a pilot patient porter system.
• Construction of a Kidney Health and Education Center with a transition program to both streamline and expand kidney health care and services at St. Paul’s Hospital.

Lecina Hicke, CEO of St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation, said kidney disease is the so-called “disease of diseases.”

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“Kidney disease is sneaky,” Hicke explained. “In that sense you can be bothered by it and actually have no idea. In fact, once you start showing symptoms, it’s too late. Your diagnosis is too far off and your only option is dialysis, or if you’re so lucky, a transplant.’

According to the St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation, an estimated one in 10 Saskatchewan residents suffer from chronic kidney disease. Over the past decade, the province has experienced a 50 percent increase in the number of patients requiring life-saving dialysis.

“The By Your Side campaign represents the next step forward in our commitment to supporting people living with or at risk of developing chronic kidney disease,” said Bryan Witt, vice president of provincial clinical and support services services of the SHA.

“This $10 million initiative aims to address several needs of this population, including education, prevention, early detection and patient support. By partnering with St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation on this campaign, we are ensuring that comprehensive, compassionate kidney care is available to all who need it.”

To date, the foundation has raised $5,500.00 for the campaign through early support.

“We are extremely grateful to the late Anne Kearnan, who left a stunningly generous gift of $1.16 million to our foundation in her estate,” said Hicke. “These funds have already had a phenomenal impact on the success of this project.

“We are very grateful for this and for every donation we receive; the generosity and dedication of our donors makes this vision of a better future for kidney patients in our province possible.”

You can make a donation byyoursidesask.ca or call (306) 655-5821.

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