The federal government will contribute $3.5 million dollars towards plans for the first haemodialysis unit on Badu Isand.
Government dignitaries, researchers, consultants, builders and other stakeholders descended on Badu by boat or plane last month to discuss how to achieve the build.
Once built, the local Wakaid Tribal Council will become the first grassroots organisation in Queensland to own a dialysis unit.
Wakaid Elder Robert ‘Bongo’ Sagigi opened the meeting in language, affirming sovereignty and reciting cultural protocols.
“This is a tribal initiative, our obligation to our people, just like any other politician, any other government,” he said.
“Outsiders that come to our Country must do the protocols, and the standard will be that you will seek permission.
“You don't sit in here and consult us and make big money out of us.”
Dialysis chairs on Waiben and Bamaga – which are within a 100-kilometre radius of Badu – are often full and families in the Torres Strait are forced to travel thousands of kilometres away from home for treatment.
Aragun Elder Dane Gagai said some families relocated down south until a place became available.
“[They] wait for a very long time, years and years,” he said.
“Some people, they go down, and they come up in boxes – the health system has to become stronger, fast.”
Mr Sagigi said the Elders had to look “outside the square” for solutions, after previously being turned down by Queensland Health.
“Change will only happen when you make that change – you’re the change you've been waiting for,” he said.
The project was made possible through a unique partnership with a cohort of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers and researchers at Flinders University.
Flinders University’s Dr Jaqui Hughes said tribal governance was the best way to practice health in the Torres Strait.
“Eldership, governance, policy, asking questions, receiving feedback, understanding a way to go forward, and for having understanding and first knowledge,” the Wagadagam woman said.
Torres Strait Islander health workers joined the meeting; Dr Jaqui Hughes (Nephrologist), Diedre Whap, Naizel Enosa and Alex Warrior. (Supplied: Carli Willis)
Bringing care closer to home a bitter-sweet success
George Henry Nona attended the meeting and said it was good to see life-saving treatment closer to home, but difficult to watch people on Badu grow sick.
He said he felt investing in prevention of sickness was better than having to need a cure.
“Is there something [government] can bring that, put a positive thing to the community, like exercise places and more programs?
“Give them gardening stuff, like tractors, to grow watermelon or bananas.
“That's what our forefathers did on this island, and they never had this sickness.”
Elders and community members were excited to hear about the project's progress.
Other community members were excited to hear that having a community-controlled health organisation could mean more local employment.
Elder Denna Nona said she would like to be a trainer in the facility and harness youth to learn clinical skills in a culturally appropriate way.
“The youngsters need to come together and we can tell them, this is the biggest opportunity to for them, they can be trained,” she said.
“We want the young generation to come in, the door is open for them to go in.”
Mammoth task ahead
Elders and stakeholders agreed more funding would be needed to complete the unit.
The region is plagued with the high cost of freight and the nature of shipping such builds by road and water is no mean feat.
Locally, many wanted to know how the project intended to source water and were concerned about the impact on the township’s supply.
Dr Jaqui Hughes said haemodialysis was a water-intensive treatment and assessments would be done to determine the best way to deliver that.
“[Haemodialysis] requires about 250 litres of water per one session and so if we're doing lots of sessions and multiple sessions over the week, that builds up to a lot of water use,” she said.
“This is really important upfront in terms of sustainability of the service for the long term, but also the sustainability of a service that doesn't impact on current water reservoirs for community.”
Dr Hughes said more reports would be brought to the community on that and other aspects of the build.
Elders got some one-on-one time with the federal assistant minister for health and aged care, Ged Kearney, on Badu. (Supplied: Carli Willis)
Federal Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health, Ged Kearney, said she was positive the project was secure if a change of federal government occurred.
“We have an agreement with the tribal council and the money has been allocated, so it would be very difficult to undo,” she said.
