President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday opened the Methsirisevana kidney patients’ hospitality and welfare centre in Anuradhapura.
The building complex cost the National Kidney Fund affliated to the Presidential Task Force for the the prevention of kidney diseases Rs. 430 million.
The President said that for 30 years various organisations had been conducting research, testing, and surveys to find a permanent diagnosis to the CKDu, once confined only to the North Central Province that has spread to eleven districts now.
“We financed the World Health Organisation to submit us a detailed report on the disease in 2013/2104 in addition to the lengthy research conducted by our universities.
There is an opinion that the brackish contaminated water mixed with heavy metal molecules could be the main reason for the people to tall prey to this renal ailment. Today we commissioned 600th and 601th large scale reverse osmosis water filtering plants in Mihintale and Isurumuniya at a cost of round Rs. 30 million. I opened a kidney patients welfare centre in Kandy at a cost of Rs. 630 million, similar to the one in Anuradhapura recently.
“All expenses were covered by the National Kidney Fund which originated from my personal bank account.These are the donations I received in 2015 from well-wishers for spending for my election campaign as the Common Candidate. At present the National Kidney Fund holds around Rs. 2000 mn to be used for the kidney disease prevention activities, the President said.
He appreciated the fullest cooperation being extended by the SL Army, SL Navy, SL Air force and police in contributing to building construction and providing potable drinking water to people in kidney disease prone areas.
He stated further that although there was some criticism regarding the present government, the development especially in healthcare and education have been excellent.Sri Lanka has been exemplary to the world’s rich and developed countries since its independence in maintaining a free healthcare and education services for which the rich and advanced countries tax the public.
There has been a significant drop in kidney patients since 2017 by 2,000 in Anuradhapura and 200 in Polonnaruwa. It is a good and encouraging news under the circumstances.We will face the challenge of eradicating the kidney disease giving it top priority to free the country from the disease, the President said. It was revealed at the inauguration that there are 10,016 kidney disease patients had been identified in the Anuradhapura district alone. Also there are 359 CKDu patients receiving dialysis treatment at Anuradhapura, Padaviya and Medawachchiya hospitals.
Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine Minister Dr. Rajitha Senarathne said 1,000 dialysis machines will be provided to 45 hospitals and all facilities will be provided to the Thambuttegama and Kebithgollewa hospitals to begin dialysis units.
The President offered domestic RO filters to five families symbolizing the provision of same to 2,000 families in addition to home used sphygroman meters and glucometers.
Ministers P. Harrison, Chandrani Bandara, N.C.P. Governor Sarath Ekanayake, MPs Duminda Dissanayake, Weera Kumara Dissanayake and Chief Secretary H.M.P. Bandara, Anuradhapura District Secretary R.M. Wanninayake, Provincial Health Dr. Palitha Bandara and Provincial Health Secretary Saman Bandulasena were present.
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