A new date has been set for the long-awaited opening of Tonga’s first dialysis centre, with celebrations now planned for the end of next month.
A reliable source confirmed to Kaniva News this morning that the Siaosi Brown Dialysis Centre is scheduled to open on October 31, pending final confirmation. The centre was previously expected to begin operations in November.
The new date marks a significant acceleration of plans, driven by the critical need for the service.
As we previously reported, the Minister of Health, Dr ‘Ana ‘Akau’ola, confirmed significant work has been ongoing to ensure the centre would open “as soon as possible given the needs and urgency for Tongan patients.”
For years, Tongans suffering from kidney failure have faced immense hardship, forced to seek costly and logistically challenging treatment overseas in countries like New Zealand, Australia, and the United States.
The centre, located at Lotoha’apai in southern Tongatapu, promises to end that struggle for many.
The facility is named in memory of Siaosi Brown, a Tongan man who passed away in the United States in 2017.
Its construction was funded by the Utah-based Siaosi Brown Dialysis Board.
In a major relief for patients and their families, services will be provided free of charge to all eligible individuals.
Minister Dr ‘Akau’ola has also highlighted the strict protocols surrounding overseas medical referrals, noting that all such cases are reviewed by a Health Committee of senior doctors.
The establishment of the local dialysis centre is expected to drastically reduce the need for these difficult referrals, keeping families together and saving lives within the kingdom.
The upcoming opening represents a monumental step forward for healthcare in Tonga, offering hope and a new lease on life for countless citizens.
