People’s Leasing & Finance conducts CKD screening programs in Anuradhapura

Friday, 22 August 2014 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Provides access to drinking water to Rathmalgahawewa Maha Vidyalaya

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a severe disease with high prevalence in the Anuradhapura area. Anuradhapura branch of People’s Leasing & Finance PLC in association with the Kidney Protection Foundation in Anuradhapura and the officers of Teaching Hospital, Anuradhapura conducted CKD screening camps in Anuradhapura area recently. The objective of this initiative was to create awareness on CKD, identify patients who suffer from CKD in the area and refer those who are affected to medical clinic at the Nephrology Unit of the Teaching Hospital Anuradhapura. Programs educated the community on CKD, symptoms associated, causative factors, importance of early identification and preventive measures. Further application of agro chemicals in prescribed dosage and the importance of organic farming towards a healthy living also were emphasised during the program. Four community screening programs have already been completed in Kelanikawawa (Galenbindunuwewa), Karagahawawa (Thalawa), Kadawa Rathmale and Rajanganaya Track 5 areas. A program was launched in Kelanikawawa on 25 April with the participation of corporate management of PLC. The program benefited 419 people out of which 28 patients were identified as CKD positive and refereed to the clinic for further treatments. A medical team comprising four doctors, four nurses and four MLT staff were present. People’s Leasing & Finance PLC CEO/GM D.P. Kumarage, Business Development & Marketing DGM RohanThennakoon, Branch Operations AGM Damith Malawathanthila and PLC Branch Managers in Kekirawa and Thambuththegama branches participated in the program. Former Manager Anuradhapura Susil Priyantha and present Manager Mahendra Amunugama spearheaded the project with 25 officers of PLC Anuradhapura volunteering 202 volunteer hours on this screening program. Religious leaders and managers of the Horowpathana and Kahatagasdigiliya branches of People’s Bank also participated at the inauguration of the screening programs. The program concluded with the presentation of four trolleys and medicine to the Nephrology Unit of the Teaching Hospital. Twelve students who lost their father or mother due to CKD were given gift parcels at the hospital premises on the same day. Further, the branch presented a Reverse Osmosis (RO) water filtration system which removes all suspected CKD causative elements such as arsenic and cadmium, to Rathmalgahawewa Maha Vidyalaya which had access only to the school well water with sub standard quality for drinking purpose. Over 540 students and 34 teachers were benefitted from this initiative. “North Central Province is severely affected by the CKD. Water sources are polluted. Water available in the school well is not suitable for the school children to drink. People’s Leasing did a great social service,” stated Head of Advance Level section and Chief Incumbent of Sri Aloka Pabbatharama temple, Venerable Kirigallawe GhanalokaThero. The second screening camp was held in Karagahawawa, Thalawa in Anuradhapura on 20 June 2014 where 332 participated for the screening program. Out of the screened, 20 CKD positive patients were referred for the hospital clinic. The third program in Kadawa Rathmale on 18 July was successfully completed with a participation of 372 villages for screening. Thirty six patients were identified as positive and referred to clinic. The fourth camp held in Rajanganaya Track 5 on 25 July benefitted 616 villagers. “We as a team are delighted to implement this initiative and see the impact of our effort on the community. Ever since I assumed my duties in the Anuradhapura branch I wanted to organise this type of a program,” beamed Former Head of Anuradhapura branch Susil Priyantha. “The impact of the program is massive and we expect to carry out few more CKD screening initiatives within the next few months,” added Head of Anuradhapura branch Mahendra Amunugama. Kidney Protection Foundation Vice President Terance Gamini stated that chemicals for testing and at times the transport facilities to the village interiors are bottlenecks they encounter in hosting mobile screening camps and the support of PLC in these were immensely helped their mission. The voluntary commitment of PLC staff is commendable. “PLC also presented us with two blood pressure meters and facilitated second time testing. Vulnerable community lives in the remote interiors of the North Central Province where agriculture is the livelihood. Although community is encouraged to get the screening done at the hospital, they do not visit the hospital as most of the areas have limited access to transportation. Going to community solved this problem. A team of medical professionals is voluntarily participating in each camp. The one hour awareness program by the Nephrology Consultant on the disease followed by the discussion helps the community to unlearn myths associated with the disease and educate the community on the importance of early identification.” PLC staff spent a total of 648 volunteered hours on this worthy community initiative and the company incurred over one million rupees in organising this worthy cause.