State help to treat kidney patients

President Mahinda Rajapaksa who visited the Kandy Teaching Hospital on an inspection tour yesterday, directed doctors and health officials to intensify research into the root causes for kidney ailments and assured all state assistance towards the treatment of kidney patients in the country.

President Rajapaksa who paid special attention to the dialysis unit of the hospital’s Kidney Unit and the War Heroes Ward during the tour, said the government would never reduce allocations made to the health sector as it paid special attention to creating a healthy nation.

The President who pointed out that the government allocated more than Rs 90 billion for health from last year’s budget,

said the forthcoming budget would also follow suit by making a large allocation for the health sector, said a press release by the President’s media division.

President Rajapaksa who later attended a ceremony to mark the National Health Week organised by the Kandy hospital handed over compensation payments to two children who had suffered injuries while being warded in hospital and a hospital employee injured in an accident during the performance of duties.

Subharna Jayalath who suffered burn injuries when a hot electric bulb fell on her while being warded in the premature baby care unit at the Kurunegala hospital on March 10, 2005 received a cash donation of Rs 500,000 while a boy named K A Sandanu Thisal Damsara who received burn injuries when a hot electric bulb fell on his face at the premature baby care unit of the Moneragala hospital also received Rs 500,000 in response to appeals made by their parents.

A cash donation of Rs 500,000 was also handed over to Kandy hospital employee Asoka Pradeep Kumanayake who injured an eye when a cylinder of oxygen exploded while he was trying to fix it to a patient.

A donation of equipment made by the Rotary Club to the Children’s Unit as well as a Public Relations Unit donated to the hospital by the People’s Bank and a cash donation made to the hospital by D N Silva were handed over to the President at this ceremony.

Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena who also attended the ceremony presented the first copy of the Ministry’s newspaper on health to the President. Central Province Governor Tikiri Kobbekaduwa, Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake, Health Ministry Secretary Dr Ravindra Ruberu and doctors and staff of the Kandy hospital were also presented at this occasion.