Anuradhapura Hospital wins award for cancer testing project
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The molecular testing team at the Anuradhapura Hospital
The Royal College of Pathologists of the United Kingdom has awarded its prestigious Achievement Award for 2023 to the molecular testing project for breast cancer at the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital.
The project, funded by Mithuruwela the cancer support network under the leadership of Dr. Jayanjana Asanthi and Dr. Sanjeewanie Jayawardhana, Consultants to the histopathology laboratory at the Anuradhapura hospital, was set up in 2022.
With the successful establishment of the molecular testing facility with support from Mithuruwela, Dr Jayanjana and her team have been able to help patients not only in the Anuradhapura district but in other parts of the island as well.
This was the first time that molecular testing had been instituted at a state hospital. Prior to this, molecular testing for those who needed it was only available in private sector hospitals at great cost. Poorer patients who could not afford this test were therefore not able to avail themselves of the newer treatment procedures.
Mithuruwela was able to collect the required funds thanks to the generosity of donors such as the Tissa De Silva Trust, the Students Association of Edith Cowan University in Australia, well-wishers in Australia and New Zealand and a number of generous individuals in Sri Lanka and overseas. JL Morisons, the agents for the reagents also supported the cause by ensuring that the reagents reached Anuradhapura safely under refrigerated conditions.
Established in 2005 by cancer survivors, Mithuruwela carries out a range of activities including awareness-raising sessions and caregiver support. In March 2020 the Covid pandemic curtailed face-to face activities and Mithuruwela therefore established a Regional Cancer Support Project to help cancer units in the provinces. Cancer units in Jaffna, Batticaloa, Badulla, Karapitiya, Galle and Kurunegala have benefited in a variety of ways from this project. In June 2022 the organization decided to help support the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital by establishing molecular testing for HER2/neu gene amplification.
The hard work and commitment of the molecular testing team at the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital has blazed a new trail for cancer diagnostics in Sri Lanka.
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