The Gardiner Foundation teamed up with International Society of Nephrology (ISN) to combat the Kidney Disease of Unidentifiable Origin (CKDu) at a ceremony presided over by President, Maithripala Sirisena at the Galle Face Hotel last week.
The tie-up between the two organisations in the battle to eradicate CKDu, was the result of Chairman, Galle Face Hotel Group, Sanjeev Gardiner being appointed by the President as the Brand Ambassador for the prevention of Chronic Kidney diseases in Sri Lanka.
Since his appointment as the Brand Ambassador Gardiner has already made personal contribution for several programs which include water purification plants in the affected areas in the North Central Province through the Fund. Addressing the gathering President Sirisena said, CKDu is now taking a terrible toll of around 5000 lives per year. There are entire villages in the North Central Province that have been affected. There are scores of orphans left with little or no support. Elaborating on how severe the disease is, the President said, CKDu does not kill the patient in one stroke. The families of patients suffer as much the patients themselves. We now issue drugs from the clinics. But we must find a way to stop this menace. Until such time we must find ways to provide better care to those affected, he said.
In recognition of his efforts towards the eradication CKDu President Maithripala Sirisena received a special award from ISN President and Executive Director, Prof. Adeera Levin.
The ISN and the Gardiner Foundation will launch the ISN Gardiner CKDu Fund, a first in-kind partnership fund directed at an important global, and local problem, the CKDu (Chronic Kidney Disease of Undetermined origin).
- SJ