Sunday Times 2
Rotary Club Battaramulla continues mission to assist CKD patients
View(s):The Rotary Club of Battaramulla was instrumental in formulating a proposal to Rotary International (RI), raising funds and obtaining the support of other groups towards enabling two global grants to the value of over Rs 10 million (US $ 70,600) to equip the Kidney and Organ Transplant Surgery unit at the Teaching Hospital of Anuradhapura (THA) as well as undertake refurbishment of this facility.
Today the RCB relationship with THA continues with funding provided this year for a Water Osmosis plant and regular vigilance to monitor where and how Rotary Sri Lanka and the Maldives (District 3224) can support the prevention of the Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in the country.
RCB formed in 2002 began their CKD effort when a senior member having relatives in that district, led to the members realising the trauma and hardships CKD patients undergo. At least 200 patients undergo dialysis on a daily basis, yet the facilities were not sufficient to cater to large numbers and patients were being turned away, asked to come the next day.
RCB visited THA and had a discussion with Consultant Nephrologist Dr. Rajeeva Dissanayake and Consultant Surgeon Dr. Charith Weerasinghe. What was needed urgently was the equipment and instruments for the THA operating theatre built by the government to carry out kidney transplants and other surgery.
The cost of equipment and instruments to commence immediate operations was approximately LKR. 4.5 m (US$. 35,000/-). In 2014/15 this dream became a reality with RCB and District 3224’s support behind them. RI was approached with a detailed Global Grant application which won approval.
RC Battaramulla was assisted by donors from India, USA and the UK who helped fund this project.
Their contributions were matched by RI with a Global Grant of US$.15, 125.The total funding received was US$. 34,375. By end of July 2014 the provision of equipment and instruments was completed.
The success of the Global Grant application encouraged RCB to raise another Global Grant to support the THA which was taken up as Phase 2. This phase looked to further improve the operating theatre by providing more instruments, refurbish the ward and provide storage cupboards. LKR. 4.75m (US$.36,213) was collected. This time too, Rotary partners from South Australia and the UK came forward to help RCB fund the project, and their contributions were matched by RI with a sum of US$.15071.
Total funding received for this phase was – US$. 36,213. By end June 2015, the project was completed. Today, to the satisfaction of all, the outcomes of these two Global Grant Projects are as follows – 305 surgeries including 12 Live Donor Kidney transplants
In mid 2016 the hospital created history by carrying out the first dual transplant in Sri Lanka (Kidney and Pancreas) of the same patient by a team led by Surgeons Amanthana Marasinghe and Joel Selvanathan.
In November 2016, RCB enabled the supply and installation of a Reverse Osmosis (RO) water filter valued at Rs. 378,000 with the capacity to produce 2000 litres of clean drinking water per day that will help some 2,500 patients, medical students, and medical staff a month.