The Tribune

Genice Rolle is one of 195 million women worldwide affected by chronic kidney disease (CKD). The 55-year-old mother receives dialysis every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 4am before heading to her job. She struts confidently into what she refers to as her “second home”— the Road Traffic Department (RTD) at the Thomas A Robinson Stadium — wearing her pink 2018 World Kidney Month shirt, pink accessories and a smile to match.

What’s behind the smile and the confidence it suggests? Five years ago when Ms Rolle was diagnosed with CKD and had to begin dialysis treatment she found the help she needed in the combined support of home and her workplace.

“I thank God for their support,” she said. “It’s all their support that helps give me the strength to push forward.”

Over the past two years, Ms Rolle’s RTD family, at both the stadium and the Carmichael Road locations in New Providence and the RTD branch in Grand Bahama, have all supported her by purchasing World Kidney Month T-Shirts and wearing them every Friday in the month of March – World Kidney Month.

Despite the mental and physical challenges of dialysis, Ms Rolle, an employee of the department for the past 23 years, remains the same dedicated and efficient worker that she has always been. Although her energy and pleasant personality may amaze others, Traffic Control and Safety Officer Michael Hudson said he would have never expect anything different from such a gem.

“I have worked with Ms Rolle since I entered the Road Traffic Department in 1997,” he said. “When I first met her I found her to be a very strong-minded individual. Although she is ill, she is still putting out as she always did. I think it is her belief in God that gives her the strength. It doesn’t surprise me at all the way she goes about her tasks at work. She is motivated. She is determined to beat this disease that she has and I can see it in her. She has the will power. It doesn’t surprise me at all.”

Ms Rolle said once she continues to get the support, she’ll continue to have the strength to carry on.

“Seeing these shirts being worn by my family and work colleagues means a lot to me and that gives me the strength to go on. I can’t describe how thankful I am for them. This (RTD) is my second family.”

According to worldkidneyday.org, World Kidney Day has been acknowledged for the past 13 years on the second Thursday of March. WKD serves as a global awareness campaign that aims to increase awareness of kidney health and its associated problems worldwide. This year World Kidney Day and International Women’s Day fell on the same day (Thursday, March 8, 2018) offering the opportunity to highlight the importance of women’s health and particularly their kidney health, hence this year’s theme: “Kidneys & Women’s Health: Include, Value, Empower”.

For information on kidney health, call 322-6952 or visit http://kidneycentre.weebly.com.