Chinese delegation to visit Sri Lanka for research on CKD

Monday, 31 October 2016 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A Chinese delegation is to visit Sri Lanka in December to conduct research on the origin of the Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in Sri Lanka.

The Ministry of Health said a high level delegation with relevant expertise from China is due to visit Sri Lanka between 15 and 20 December 2016.

The uncertainty over the origin of the Chronic Kidney Disease is a major public health issue in Sri Lanka affecting 12 districts with a large number of cases being reported from the North Central Province. As a result many human lives were lost and it also causes high morbidity among the people in the affected areas leading to catastrophic situations with an adverse impact on society. Although studies have been conducted over the years the cause still remains unknown.

President Maithripala Sirisena has taken initiatives to renew Sino-Lanka relations. Under this initiative, Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine, Dr. Rajitha Senaratne requested the Chinese Government to extend cooperation in solving the mystery behind CKD in Sri Lanka.

As a result a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Ministry of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The MoU focuses on conducting further research to identify the possible causes for the occurrence of Chronic Kidney Disease of unknown origin.

It also provides capacity building of Sri Lankan healthcare staff on preventive and curative aspects with regard to CKD. Some of the other important areas of the MoU are exploring biomarkers for the detection of CKD, strengthening the existing Renal Registry and updating the relevant statistics.

The MoU was signed between Dr. Rajitha Senaratne and Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Prof. Zhongli Ding. (Colombo Gazette)