Number of kidney patients decreasing due to comprehensive programs implemented by Govt.: President

President Maithripala Sirisena pointed out that the number of chronic kidney disease patientsaredecreasing at a significant rate annually as a result of the comprehensive programs implemented by the Government toprevent kidney diseasespreading in the country. 

President Sirisena further said that the innocent people in the country subjected to this disease and the Government executed extensive programs during the last three and half years to control and prevent kidney disease as well as to look into the welfare of the kidney disease patients and their family members. 

The President made these remarks participating in a ceremony to offer the pure drinking water to the sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, last week The water was collected from the 500 water purification systems established at a cost of Rs.800 million and those 500 water purification systemswere also vested with the public by the President. 

Expressing his views the President further said that the number of new cases of kidney disease reported in 2016 was 3,372 and that number in 2017 was only 2,478 and presently in the year 2018 the number of new cases reported annually decrease to a minimum level of 1,500.

President Sirisena said that the Kidney Fund, which he established utilising the money he received to spend on banners and cut-outs at the Presidential Election when he was contesting as the Common candidate, at present turned into a strong reputed National Fund. He also said that through this fund, many programs have been implemented for thewelfare of kidney patients and extended his gratitude to the state and private sectors and business community as well as the international community for joining hands with this initiative. 

At present, 500 water purification systems have been established with the financial assistance of the Presidential Task Force on Prevention of Chronic Kidney Disease and with the labour support offered by the Sri Lanka Navy to provide pure drinking water to the people in the areas of vulnerable to disease.

The 500th water purification system under this project has been established at the Mihindu Aranya Senasanaya in Mihintale,Kurundankulama, Anuradhapura. The President, using the remote satellite technology, vested that water purification system with the public.