By José Antonio Pérez
Following over four years of anticipation in seeking to equip the center, along with the completion of paperwork as required by COFEPRIS, Puerto Peñasco’s first Dialysis Center finally began operations on Saturday, Oct. 28th, marking an end to the trying journey of renal patients in the area.
During a simple ceremony held outside the dialysis facilities, located in Brisas del Golfo, José Luis González (aka “professor Chaparro”) became the first person to receive dialysis treatment at the newly inaugurated center.
Rafaela Félix Bernal, President of the “Proyecto de Asistencia Comunitaria Integral, A.C.” (Comprehensive Community Assistance Project) behind the dialysis center, emphasized all the work and support over the years has been worth it. The center will help prevent complications faced by people seeking dialysis, who have had to travel to neighboring cities such as Caborca for treatment.
After expressing gratitude for the support of Governor Claudia Pavlovich Arellano and Secretary of Health Gilberto Ungson, Félix Bernal added this is a historic step as the goal now will be to sustain services, noting the association will continue working arduously on this objective.
Adriana Burke Andrade, whose father passed away prior to seeing the dialysis center come to fruition after being a strong promoter of the project, stressed ongoing support for the clinic as conditions to treat individuals with renal diseases had been physically, emotionally, and economically exhausting.
Nephrologist Humberto González acknowledged the work of the Comprehensive Community Assistance Project, stating the center has everything necessary to provide treatment to patients, whether from Mexico or the U.S., adding that Puerto Peñasco now becomes one of the 300 dialysis centers in the country.
The extensive effort to build, equip, and complete Puerto Peñasco’s Dialysis center has been made possible through numerous donations, including construction via the Caring Hearts Foundation, an ambulance as well as defibrillator, medical equipment and landscaping provided by several Utah Rotary clubs, as well as equipped computers; additional donated equipment and funds from Sonoran Resorts, the Cholla Bay community, the Professional and Business Women’s Club of Puerto Peñasco, David and Marilyn Knox, Curt and Angela Weitnauer, as well as OOMAPAS who donated a 5000 liter tank, pumping equipment, water outlets and drainage, as well as the city administration who initially provided the land, public lighting, perimeter fence and paving of surrounding streets. These, and so many more donations and fundraising efforts, have made the dialysis center finally a reality!