Thalassemia Infusion Systems manufactured by the Navy handed over to Health Ministry by the Commander of the Navy

Thalassemia Infusion Systems produced by the Sri Lanka Navy were handed over to the Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine ministry by the Commander of the Navy at Naval headquarters today (05^th December).

The Director Non Communicable Disease Unit of the, Dr. KADDVL Kumarapeli officially received 118 Thalassemia Infusion Systems on behalf of the Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine ministry, and Director General Health & Services of Sri Lanka Navy, Surgeon Rear Admiral Senarupa Jayawardena was also in attendance at the handing over.

The infusion system is very essential for thalassemia patients for the removal of excessive iron deposits gathered in vital organs as a result of frequent blood transfusions which are needed for the treatment of the disease. It is donated to the hospitals free of charge as a part of the Sri Lanka Navy’s social responsibility initiative.

Infusion pumps available in the market are extremely expensive and many patients are unable to afford the treatment. Therefore, the Research and Development Unit of the Sri Lanka Navy utilizing their expertise and knowledge, developed the new infusion pump bringing about a great deal of relief to many a patient who could not afford the expensive pump. The equipment has been manufactured at a relatively low unit cost. This low-cost infusion system, another feat in the Navy’s technological success, is today being used under the Health Ministry guidelines in Government hospitals and reports have confirmed it as the most effective equipment in use in Sri Lanka.

The Navy has produced and donated 1885 no’s of Infusion systems to date, and intends on further production to meet the nation’s requirement.