Issues relating to kidneys can now be treated at the Mendi Hospital in Southern Highlands province after the hospital received its new Kidney Dialysis Unit. This was made possible through the support of the national petroleum and energy company, Kumul Petroleum Holdings Limited (KPHL), through a commitment made to support the establishment of the Unit at a cost of K1million and after some years, the dialysis unit is finally officially open and ready to take in patients. At the 2020 ground-breaking ceremony, KPHL made their first instalment of K500, 000 towards the Sothern Highlands Provincial Health Authority (PHA) project and by mid-2021 building construction was well underway. Since then, the facility has been fully kitted out with the necessary water treatment other necessary equipment and medical staff trained in Port Moresby to operate it. KPHL Managing Director Mr. Wapu Sonk said, “Kumul Petroleum Holdings is proud to have partnered with the Southern Highlands Provincial Health Authority in ensuring that this important life-changing medical facility is established and operational in a Highlands location, in a region where a large percentage of the country’s population lives. It is the second government kidney dialysis centre in PNG after Port Moresby. “Kumul Petroleum has always had a health focus, we want to help save lives. We have supported the National Heart Centre at Port Moresby General Hospital and also financed cancer treatment at that hospital and ANGAU Memorial Hospital in Lae. This support of the Mendi Dialysis unit is a logical extension of KPHL’s health sector programs.” Equipped with six dialysis machines each costing K85, 000, the Kidney Dialysis Centre at Mendi will serve patients from throughout the Highlands region. Two of the dialysis machines will be provided by PNG Kidney Foundation while the other four are funded by the PNG Government. An important part of the facility is the water filtering and treatment system, which cost over K200, 000. “As PNG develops there is an increased incidence of lifestyle diseases such as cancer and diseases that affect organs such as the heart and kidneys, which often results in death. At Kumul Petroleum we hope that our financial support can assist the National Department of Health, such as today where we see the first Highland regional dialysis facility.” “Kumul Petroleum Holdings hopes that the dialysis unit here in Mendi properly serves its purpose, which ultimately is to save people’s lives - to become a kidney dialysis centre of excellence, providing training and development for our doctors, nurses and technicians.