ST GEORGE’S, Grenada: Dialysis treatment could be available in Grenada in the very near future. The treatment will be provided by a private company, Island Health Services (IHS), which is in the process of organizing its clinic at Belmont St George’s. The company will work in partnership with the government of Grenada to make the services available. A contract was signed between both parties on Friday June 23, with Minister for Health Ann David Antoine signing on behalf of the Government. “The Cabinet of Grenada of course has given its blessing and consent to this process and we are very happy to be here. And to announce to all that we’ve reached this significant milestone and we only have about three months to go before we see the first patient being treated, being dialysed right here in Grenada,” said the Minister. As of August, IHS will make the service available to people in Grenada. After the first year, services will be provided to people in the region and beyond. Health Care Administrator and Chairman of the Company Dr Trevor Forrester says their operation will meet international standards. He said their standards will be of a much higher than the one in Trinidad and Tobago. For many years citizens and friends have been making efforts to have dialysis treatment available in Grenada, with nationals in England donating a number of machines. Minister Ann David Antoine gave an update on the status of the machines which were placed on the compound of the Mirebeau Hospital. “The machines off course have suffered with hurricane Ivan as with all of us and all other bits of equipment in Grenada suffered at that time, and those machines have been looked at by the team from IHS and it may be possible at some point things that can be salvaged will be salvaged but that is kind of unlikely at this time. Everything leads to success and, even if we were not able to use the machines, those machines and the support given by friends in the United Kingdom have played a part in the process.” Reprinted from Caribbean Net News caribbeannetnews.com