Representatives of Lanka Thalassaemia Circle meet with Commander of the Navy
 

A group of representatives from the Lanka Thalassaemia Circle, a movement operated for the rights of poor thalassaemia patients, met with the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne at the Naval Headquarters yesterday (June, 29). The circle members extended their sincere gratitude to the Commander of the Navy and all naval personnel for sponsoring a Deferoxamine Infusion Pump which is used to remove excess iron from the body in thalassemia patients.

Sri Lanka Navy, being the sole supplier of Thalassemia Infusion Systems, makes valiant efforts to fight off this inherited blood disorder. Throwing its full weight behind this worthy cause, Sri Lanka Navy has thus far distributed 1521 Thalassemia Infusion Systems among helpless thalassemia patients including small children. Allocation of funds for this noble effort is made trough the Navy’s Community Development and Social Responsibility Fund. Though a Thalassemia Infusion System of this nature costs about Rs. 75,000 to 100,000 in the market, the Navy-made system, with the highest quality, incurs only Rs. 3,500 to 5,000 on its production.

Meanwhile, foundation stone laying for a Bone Marrow Transplant Centre was held under the patronage of the Minister of Health, Nutrition & Indigenous Medicine, Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, at the Kandy Teaching Hospital Complex on 08th May, in parallel with the World Thalassemia Day. At the request of the Hon. Minister, the Commander of the Navy handed over a consignment of Thalassemia Infusion Systems produced by the Sri Lanka Navy, to be distributed among the children suffering from Thalassemia.

During the cordial discussion, Vice Admiral Wijegunaratne pledged Navy’s fullest cooperation, in fighting this inherited genetic blood disorder, to the representatives of Lanka Thalassaemia Circle. In appreciation of the Navy’s contribution in this regard, a special memento was presented to the Commander of the Navy.