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Snakebite not a cause for Chronic Kidney Disease, study reveals
By Ifham Nizam
Snakebite is not a cause of the Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Aetiology (CKDu) in Sri Lanka, a latest study reveals.Lead researcher of the project Prof. Anjana Silva of the Rajarata Medical Faculty told The Island: “We have so far investigated in depth how snakebite causes paralysis in humans, the effectiveness of anti- venom for treating these patients as well as affordable tests to detect snakebite at the bedside and other long-term effects of snakebite.”
Prof. Silva says there are still many things that the team is not clear about, relating to snakebite so they need to continue the studies in the long run not only to understand more about snakebite but also to make a real improvement in the treatment and prevention of this unfortunate, preventable health hazard
Chronic Interstitial Nephritis of Agricultural Communities (CINAC), also known as Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology (CKDu), has been a major health issue in Sri Lanka, and has claimed many lives, especially in the North Central Province, and other agricultural areas.
Although the exact cause of this ‘mysterious’ disease has not been elucidated, several hypothesis, including a mix of possible causes, such as water, agricultural activities, agrochemicals, heavy metals, snakebite and heat stress, have been previously attributed by scientists.
A recent research study, by a team of researchers from the Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences of Rajarata University, published in a leading medical journal, Clinical Toxicology, revealed that snakebite is unlike to be a cause of CINAC or CKDu in Sri Lanka. This study was conducted as a part of the PhD study of Dr. Subodha Waiddyanatha, where she followed up 199 snakebite patients, four years after the snakebite, and 168 patients, one year after the snakebite.
“At the time of snakebite, we have collected all the information of these patients, including the data on their kidney function. We compared this data with their kidney function, one and four years after the snakebite, and found no evidence of any association of venomous snakebite, with reduced kidney function. We found that those patients who had kidney failure after the snakebite, completely recovered when we studied them one and four years later,” Dr. Waiddyanatha said.
She said that a small number of patients, who had reduced kidney function, at the follow up, had clearly identifiable other causes of poor kidney function, such as diabetes and hypertension. This means that a snakebite is unlikely to be a cause of CINAC or CKDu in Sri Lanka. “However, we still need to closely monitor a large number of patients who develop severe kidney failure, after snakebite, to clearly understand how many of them could have reduced renal functions in the long run,” Dr. Waiddyanatha added.
“This study was conducted as a part of ‘Anuradhapura Snakebite Cohort’, probably the largest snakebite research study in the world, that was started in 2012 by a team of researchers from the Rajarata Medical Faculty that included Prof. Sisira Siribaddana, Dr. Senaka Pilapitya and myself, in collaboration with one of the foremost snakebite researchers in the world, Professor Geoffrey Isbister from Newcastle University, Australia. South Asian Clinical Toxicology Research Collaboration was instrumental in providing logistics for the study”, she 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
