For that reason, there should be considerable anticipation of better times to come following announcement by the State-run Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund of plans to address the growing problem of kidney disease.

The State-run Jamaica Information Service tells us that the fund is committed to “revolutionising public health care in Jamaica with strategic investments in specialised medical services and infrastructure”.

Among the proposed initiatives is a state-of-the-art Nephrology Centre of Excellence (for treatment of kidney disease) at St Ann’s Bay Regional Hospital, targeting patients across the North East Regional Health Authority, which includes St Ann, Portland, and St Mary.

The plan is for that facility to be the first in a national network of specialised kidney care centres — one in each of Jamaica’s four regional health authorities.

CHASE is starting with the north-east region because of data suggesting it is the area of greatest need.

“Chronic kidney disease is rising, and with an ageing population, the burden is only growing,” Mr Wilford “Billy” Heaven, CHASE Fund CEO, is reported as saying.

Source: https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2025/08/25/facilities-treat-kidney-disease-badly-needed/