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Dialysis Unit in the making
By Priyanwada Ranawaka
The Kidney Patient Welfare Society has come a long way since its inception in June 2000. Initially launched to help Sri Lankan kidney patients, the society is now constructing a Dialysis Unit.

The unit, which will be a part of the Colombo South Teaching Hospital in Kalubowila, will treat patients in the acute stages of renal failure while at the same time training undergraduates and post-graduate medical students. “ We collected nearly Rs.7 lakhs over two years to make this a possibility,” says the initiator and secretary of the Society, Mrs. Janet Gunasekara.

The OBA of Dharmarajah College in Melbourne, Australia, has donated more than 12 dialysis machines for the new unit. The unit will serve acute renal emergencies in several fields including general medicine, gynaecology, obstetrics and surgery. Counselling programmes for patients coming for treatment in the new unit are also planned.

In the case of patients with acute and chronic renal failure, there is an extensive need for frequent blood and urine tests and dialysis therapy. “It is estimated that there are more than 1300 chronic renal failure patients and a larger number of acute patients in Sri Lanka,” said Dr. Kamini Wanigasuriya who is a member of the Board of Consultants of the Society. Studies reveal that more will succumb to kidney dysfunction due to unpurified drinking water.

“Renal disease including chronic renal failure is a critical cause of disability and death,” Dr. Wanigasuriya says. Patients need to go through dialysis therapy at least twice a week. According to her, there are only six dialysis machines in national hospitals in Colombo.

A patient has to spend more than Rs. 4,000 to 6,000 per dialysis session in a private hospital. This is an unbearable expense in the case of most patients as they should undergo dialysis at least twice a week. “Once the Dialysis Unit is constructed and handed over to the government, patients can get treatment free of charge,” says Dr. Wanigasuriya.

Mrs. Gunasekara spoke appreciatively of the students of Gothami Balika Vidyalaya who lent a helping hand in raising funds for the Society through the selling of greeting cards and food stalls. They also organized a fair at the Exhibition and Convention Centre during the festive season. Help Age Sri Lanka and the Ranaviru Sevana too have contributed. “The Kidney Walk that we organized a few months ago was a success with people from various spheres, including some celebrities taking part,” said Mrs. Gunasekara.

The UDA has approved land close to the National Hospital Sri Jayawardenapura for a transit home for kidney patients which would be constructed next year. This would be of assistance in finding accommodation for the patients coming to Colombo from other areas of the country to receive treatment.“ Plans have already been drawn up for this building but construction will get underway once the dialysis unit is completed,” says Mrs. Gunasekara. “The transit home will not only provide accommodation for patients, there would also be food and care.”

“There is a lot we still have to do,” continues Mrs. Gunasekara who is devoted to making the Welfare Society a dynamic organization offering consolation and assistance to kidney patients around the country. She plans to construct many other dialysis units in and outside Colombo, for which they would need the assistance of a NGO. The Kidney Patients Welfare Society can be contacted on 01-2714923.

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