The National Kidney Foundation of Samoa (NKFS) has expressed its appreciation for the donation of $15,000 from local firm Betham Brothers Enterprises Ltd.

Coinciding with the company's 30th anniversary since the BBE opened its doors to its customers in Samoa, management presented $3,000 to the Board of Directors of the NKFS on Thursday as the first portion of its financial donation to the foundation, stated a media release issued by the NKFS.

A BBE management spokesperson said that from January to December next year the company would be making a monthly donation of $1,000 tala to the foundation to total $12,000 at year's end. This will bring the total value of the donation to the NKFS to $15,000.

The BBE has been supportive of health initiatives and education for the community and its employees. Not to mention their continuous generosity in assisting with the development of sports and healthy lifestyles.

It is the hope of the company that this donation will assist the NKFS with its operations and prevention efforts due to the increasing numbers of dialysis patients in the country.

Deacon Lui Faitaua on behalf of the Minister of Health, the Board and the staff of NKFS and the Samoa Government expressed his gratitude to company's management for their kindness and generosity to the foundation and the people of Samoa.

Kidney disease continues to be a major health challenge in Samoa with the foundation in April this year raising concerns about its high prevalence, after the publishing of a paper in the British Medical Journal Open that pointed to diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity as risk factors for chronic kidney disease.