A significant and practical example of the strong level of co-operation between Newcrest and the martu people will become more evident later this year when a respite renal dialysis program begins operation at Jigalong.

The initial phase of the program will offer a dialysis service for four patients for up to two weeks on four separate occasions each year, under the care of specialist medical staff. The program will be reviewed after three years of operation, with a view to possibly extending the availability of the service.

Jigalong chosen

A house at Jigalong, known as Lethridge's Place, and located about 200m from the community clinic, will be fully refurbished and dialysis equipment installed. Allstate Property Maintenance is expected to start work within the next few weeks. External works will include access ramps to front an rear verandahs, tanks and a water purification shed, while internal works include security systems and repairs to floors, walls and ceilings in all rooms and construction of a nurse's quarters. Jigalong was selected as the preferred site for the facility because its remoteness entails considerable hardship for patients needing access to dialysis: a significant number of patients from the area are currently forced to relocate to Perth: and the community has sufficient established services to support the program. Mr. fred Or4dynski, formerly Manager of Technical Services for Dialysis at Royal Perth Hospital, will oversee the total project, including installation, testing and commissioning of the dialysis equipment. Fresenius Medical Care, the preferred supplier of dialysis equipment to RPH, will supply, install and test the four dialysis units.

Milestone

Newcrest's Support Services manager at Telfer, Craig Thompson, said the project was a significant milestone. "This is the singularly most important initiative we have undertaken with the martu people since we signed the Community Benefits Agreement with them in 2004," he said. On receiving their land rights, the Martu and Newcrest established a Consultative Committed to investigate ways they could cooperate for their mutual benefit. In 2005, the Martu asked Newcrest to assist them in establishing a dialysis program in their homelands to enable their people who were afflicted with renal disease to return home, at least periodically, to spend time with their families, and to fulfil their cultural commitments. The program has already won the support of many organisations, including WDLAC and WDPAC, Royal Perth Hospital, the Aboriginal Medical Service at Jigalong, WA Country Health Services, BHP Billiton, Lottery West and ICC. Newcrest Community Relations Superintendent Leon van Erp said: "We're proud to be associated with this program and the major health benefits it brings to those people from the Western Desert who require dialysis support. "We have received enormous encouragement, advice and support from many people in a range of medical, government and commercial organisations who have share the vision."

High rate of disease

Aboriginal Australians have the highest rate of kidney disease in the country. The rates of kidney disease that lead to kidney failure and require dialysis are 20 to 40 times higher amongst Aboriginals. Compounding the problem is the fact that the need for dialysis occurs on average 20 years earlier than it does for non-Aboriginals. Currently, 21 patients receive haemodialysis in the Pilbara dialysis unit at Port Hedland Hospital. There is no other such facility in the region. Patients who cannot dialyse at Port Hedland due to social or medical factors are frequently required to relocate, temporarily or permanently, to Perth. For several patients, relocating to the unfamiliar surroundings of Perth can cause severe personal and social distress.