AUSTRALIA TO HELP FIND CAUSE OF CKD

Australia had pledged to assist Sri Lanka to tackle the ever increasing cases of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKDU) of unknown cause and a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) had been signed between Sri Lankan Presidential Task Force and Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), Cabinet Spokesman Lands and Parliamentary Reforms Minister Gayantha Karunathilaka said.

The ANSTO on a Co-operative Programrne on the Epidemiology of Chronic Kidney Disease of unknown aetiology would prepare a strategic plan, conduct medical research and provide medical advice on CKDU in Sri Lanka under the programme. An MOU was signed between the Ministry of Health and the ANSTO in Canberra during President’s recent state visit to Australia.

Cabinet approval was granted last Tuesday for the programme Unfortunately, the root cause of CKDU has not yet been established and therefore it is essential to strengthen the research activities with the assistance of foreign agencies as well on a Cabinet Memo presented by President Maithripala Sirisena, Minister Karunathilaka said.

The CKD of unknown aetiology, is one of the major non-contagious diseases in Sri Lanka. It is now prevalent in 50 Divisional Secretariat Divisions of 11 Districts in the country.

“Unfortunately, the root cause of CKDU has not yet been established and therefore it is essential to strengthen the research activities with the assistance of foreign agencies as well. Accordingly, the ANSTO has come forward to help Sri Lanka in the research aimed at finding the root cause of the disease,” Karunathilaka said.

After the completion of internal consultations with the Presidential Task Force for Prevention of CKDU in Sri Lanka and with the concurrence of the Legal Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sri Lanka side had conveyed its concurrence to the Australian side for signing the MOU. The CKD of unknown aetiology, is one of the major noncontagious diseases in Sri Lanka. It is now prevalent in 50 Divisional Secretariat Divisions of 11 Districts in the country

“The purpose of this MOU is to collaborate on the epidemiology of CKDU of unknown aetiology. The participants will seek to connect nephrologists in Australia and Sri Lanka and make use of the ANSTO infrastructure and methods, where practicable and relevant, to support further research into CKDU,” the Minister Karunathilaka announced.