HNB continues to provide safe drinking water

HNB Managing Director/CEO Jonathan Alles handing over a water purifier to Regional Director Health Services Dr. Rathani Jude while Mannar General Hospital Paediatrician Dr. C.B. Ekanayake, HNB Northern Region Regional Head K. Indravasan and HNB Mannar Branch Manager K. Thilageshan look on

An important global public health concern is unfolding around Chronic Kidney Disease of unknown etiology (CKDu). Over 40,000 Sri Lankans suffer from CKDu at present and there are a high number of (CKDu) cases in selected regions of the country. An average of 283 deaths is reported annually in Anuradhapura district itself.

Having identified the issue the bank took steps to engage with the affected community by providing good quality drinking water to the children of the CKDu endemic areas. 

Water purification plants with Reverse Osmosis (RO) Filters have been installed in three more schools namely Hatharaswela Vidyalaya, Mankadawala Maha Vidyalaya and Maha Wannammaduwa Vidyalaya in Anuradhapura, continuing the safe drinking water project started in 2015. 

These schools were provided with the RO filters, clean water storage tanks and plumbing systems, allowing easy access to safe drinking water for children. The capacity of the units provided was based on the number of students in each school.

The project was conducted in collaboration with the AIESEC attached to the University of Moratuwa. Three awareness programs on safe drinking water and hygiene were conducted in these schools on 26, 27 and 28 July and the school communities were trained to operate and maintain the units. The water purification plants were officially handed over to the schools by HNB Anuradhapura Manager Indika Ekanayake at the end of each event. 

HNB also came forward to donate water purifiers to the General Hospital in Mannar. The hospital is being patronised by public from various parts of the Mannar district who have limited accesses to purified water. To provide the patients with safe drinking water, HNB has taken steps to donate water purification units to seven wards at the hospital where such facilities were not available. The water purifiers were officially handed over to Regional Director Health Services Dr. Rathani Jude by HNB Managing Director Jonathan Alles on 15 July. 

Mannar General Hospital Paediatrician Dr. C.B. Ekanayake, HNB Northern Region Regional Head K. Indravasan and HNB Mannar Branch Manager K. Thilageshan also participated at this event.