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| Sunday, 7 August 2005 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Taming another silent killer
Kidney failure, in Sri Lanka is on the rise. Many people, no matter what age group were being affected by it. Has ayurvedic medicine got the answer? The Sunday Observer staffer Jayantha Sri Nissanka spoke to a cross section of kidney patients, who have taken ayurvedic treatment and taken a turn for the better. Kidney failure is on the increase. Is it going to be another monster or silent killer like diabetes? Newspapers today carry a number of appeals for kidney donors. The authorities do not have a clear idea as to why the number of kidney patients is on the increase in this country. They suspect that renal failure is due to side effects of drugs, impure water, fluorides, pesticides, chemicals, etc. If renal failure, is diagnosed at the early stages, patients can survive on drugs for sometime. But most of the cases were diagnosed at the end stage. They are detected only when they take treatment for other ailments. Therefore, chances of survival are less, unless patients go for dialysis and transplants. Sri Lanka has very limited facilities to treat kidney patients. Kandy, Colombo and Jayawardanepura Hospitals perform transplants and dialyses. The Kidney Unit of the Kandy General Hospital is functioning to full capacity. There are plans to open Kidney clinics in Anuradhapura, Medawachchiya, Padaviya and Girandurukotte. These were areas, where most number of kidney patients have been recorded so far, to reduce the workload in the Kandy Hospital. The Kandy Hospital performs three transplants a day and 30 dialyses. He said that about 2000 to 2500 patients who reserve at "end stage of renal failure" die every year, as dialysis and transplant are unaccessible to them. The only option for Kidney patients is to go for dialysis and transplant to survive which cost Rs. 50,000 for dialysis a month and Rs. 30,000 for medicine after the transplant. As a result of the high cost, patients were afraid of transplants and turn to Ayurvedic treatment. Dr. Abeysekara noted that he cannot say that Western medicine is the only medical system to treat patients. But he said that alternative medicines practised in Vietnam, China, Japan, Hong Kong has treatment for kidney failures. He believes that Sri Lanka's Ayurvedic Medicine too could be made use of to treat renal failure. However, many kidney patients have become a very good source of income for some Ayurvedic quacks. Recently, the Fort Police arrested the famous "Govia Deviya" who was claiming in newspaper advertisements that he hails from an Ayurvedic family and has secret medicine used during the time of King Prakramabahu II, which could cure 40 illnesses including kidney failure in a period of six days, 12, days and 18 days. However, after he was arrested, it was revealed that he only had a permit to sell plants of the Agricultural Ministry. Maestro Premasiri Khemadasa was one such victim. He had taken treatment from an Ayurvedic physician in Kalutara spending Rs.15,000 a week. Since there was no improvement he had gone to another monk who treats kidney patients in Seeduwa. But Kemadasa's condition only deteriorated. Finally Dr. Abeysekara, Surgeon Dr. Harischandra and his staff saved his life. The Sunday Observer also visited another famous Ayurvedic Clinic treating kidney patients in Kandalama, Dambulla. We were able to witness hundreds of patients in the queue. Some of the patients had come the previous night to take an 'early number', for the next day. Ayurvedic Doctor H. M. Kiribanda said that most of the patients who come to him had been rejected by hospitals. He was a registered ayurvedic practitioner of the Ayurvedic Medical Council. On inquiry, the registration number he said, was 11064. He said that he was treating patients since 1968 and learnt Ayurvedic Medicine from his father H.M.D. Kiribanda in Matale. Since Dr. Kiribanda is a graduate in Sanskrit, he was able to read many rare books and find medicines for kidney failure. He has lectured for 14 years at the Keraminiya Ayurvedic Institute. He was awarded the Ayurvedic Sobana Lanka Puthra title by Indigenous Medicine Minister, Tissa Karaliyadda. He says that he can cure kidney failure provided patients are careful of dietary restrictions imposed by him and take the medicine on time. He challenges any Nephrologist to cure any kidney patient. He requests the Government or any other charity organisation to improve facilities in the clinic. Dr.Kiribanda does not charge any consultation fee but charges a nominal fee for "kasaya" - decoctions. He also requests Nephrologists to refrain from charging consultation fee from patients. A Coir Mill owner J. Perera is now taking treatment for his renal failure during the last one-and-half years. He was bed-ridden and when his children carried him to hospital, doctors advised him to go for dialysis immediately and prepare for the transplant. When he expressed difficulties, a junior doctor in the ward had made a passing remark to him that there was an Ayurvedic Doctor in Dambulla who treats kidney failure. Then Perera, had gone to Dambulla the next day with his wife. Now Perera drives his van from Negombo to Dambulla every two weeks for treatment. He feels he is physically fit and engages in his coir mill work. Susil Magala Nishantha (32) is another young man taking treatment for kidney stones. Doctors told him that there were three stones in his kidneys and he should undergo surgery immediately. But he decided to take Ayurvedic treatment. Now two of the stones have already dissolved, thanks to ayurvedic treatment and the other is gradually dissolving. He requests a charity organisation to put up a building for patients to stay overnight. During rainy days patients do not have shelter. C. K. Sedara from Pannipitiya said that he is passing protein with his urine. It was 60 points a year ago and now it has reduced to 30 points after taking treatment. He was advised by a doctor that he will have to face kidney failure in four or five years unless he took immediate treatment. Mrs. Lalitha Dodampegamage (55) of Homagama met two patients at a bus halt who attend the Hospital clinic every month. When she inquired about their improvement they said that they took Ayurvedic treatment and requested her to follow. She has improved tremendously after taking treatment for three months. A Petroleum Corporation employee, R. Pathirana was born with one kidney and bed ridden after a renal failure. He was immediately asked to go for a kidney transplant an year ago. But thanks to ayurvedic medicine he is able to go to office now. Katana Co-operative Society Manager, J.S.C.E. Silva (55) has been taking treatment from Kandalama Wedamedura for the past eight months. His relatives carried him to Dr. Kiribanda in a wheelchair as he could not walk. But now he does his daily chores and even goes to work. |
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