News
No sign of decrease in incidence of chronic kidney disease
By Rathindra Kuruwita
There were 20,000 patients with kidney issues in the Anuradhapura District by 2023, Dr. Nadeesha Wickramaarachchi, Consultant Nephrologist at the Transplant Centre of the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital said.
She said that over 4,000 people had died between 2019 and 2024 in the District due to kidney diseases.
“About 1,200 new patients were registered with our clinics in the last year. Between 18 and 20 new patients start dialysis each month,” she said.
Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Aetiology (CKDu) was prevalent in the North Central province, Dr. Wickramaarachchi said. Despite numerous research, scientists had not yet singled out the cause for CKDu, she said.
“This might be caused by agrochemicals, genetics, heavy metals in water or long term dehydration,” she said.
Dr. Wickramaarachchi said about 40 percent of diabetics suffered from kidney diseases. Most of the kidney patients that came to her were obese, she added.
“Most people don’t care too much about putting on weight, but obesity leads to many diseases. People who have been using painkillers for a long period of time and those who smoke are also more vulnerable to kidney diseases,” she said.
Dr. Wickramaarachchi said kidney patients could control the disease with medication and following the correct lifestyle and food habits.
She said that being properly hydrated was a way to minimise the risk of kidney diseases. A male should drink at least three litres of water a day and a woman 2.5 litres, she said.
“Getting at least 30 minutes of exercise a day is also important,” she said. Dr. Wickramaarachchi added that if kidney diseases could be diagnosed in early stages, they could be treated effectively.
The government spent about Rs 14,000 for each dialysis. If kidney diseases could be diagnosed early they could be controlled and a lot of money saved.
Dr. Maithri Fernando, Consultant Nephrologist at National Nephrology Hospital said the situation in Polonnaruwa was as grave as Anuradhapura. The hospital had 50 dialysis machines, but there was a need for at least 30 more such machines to deal with the large number of kidney patients who needed assistance.
“There are so many new cases, sometimes people have to wait to get a date at the clinic,” he said.
Dr. Fernando said the state conducted a large number of screening programmes for kidney diseases in areas with a high prevalence. People who suspect that they might be prone to the diseases can avail these services, he said.
“Those living in areas with a high prevalence of kidney diseases must get tested twice a year,” he said.
Dr. Fernando said some kidney patients were resorting to shamanic practices and trying other untested herbal medicine. Given that there are now many effective medicines for kidney diseases, there is no need to take a chance, he said.
“We now have a class of drugs known as sodium–glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, which has been hailed as one of the biggest breakthroughs we’ve had for kidney disease in 30 years,” he said.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
