“LIONS Kidney Dialysis center”, a state-of-the-art kidney dialysis centre was declared open on Friday, 14th January 2022 at the Colombo East Base Hospital, Mulleriyawa. This project has been the brainchild of the Past District Governor of Lions International, Lion Mahinda Perera, and ably assisted by Project Chairman Lion Susantha Caldera and Project Manager Lion Athula de Silva. It is one of the most impressive and challenging tasks undertaken by the Lions District 306C1 in recent times.

Lions Clubs International is the world’s largest humanitarian service organisation which has its representation in more than 210 countries with a global membership of more than 1.4 million service minded people who have rendered their humanitarian services for over 100 years with the motto “WE SERVE”.

It is a known fact that many urban Sri Lankans in the Western Province, suffer from kidney disease, for which they need medical treatment from government hospitals, mainly due to the very high cost of treatment from private hospitals in Colombo. Cost of kidney Dialysis in private hospitals is not affordable to an ordinary low income citizen in Sri Lanka as average charges are Rs.8,500/= for one time treatment. Normally a kidney patient has to go through the dialysis process 2-3 times a week. Hence the charges per month will be approximately Rs.100,000 p.m. Further, due to this high cost, Socio Economic Impact of Chronic Kidney Diseases on the affected families are impossible to think of. The Majority of chronic kidney patients are still in the working and economically productive ages. As a result, the disease has a considerable impact on such a household’s income

During the last decade it has been observed that the occurrences of chronic kidney diseases and other renal diseases has increased rapidly. Given these critical circumstances, the need for a dialysis centre at the Colombo East Base Hospital is of immense importance. Hence the District 306C1 of International Lions Clubs decided to donate a state of the art LIONS KIDNEY DIALYSIS CENTRE to Colombo East Base Hospital, as part of their humanitarian projects. They have constructed the building for the centre at the hospital premises and donated all medical equipment needed for the unit. Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) came forward to invest in all the Dialysis machines, RO Plants, and other equipment. Total value of this noble project is around Rs. 45 million, out of which Rs.16.2 million was funded by the Lions club international Foundation (LCIF). The cost of construction of the building was entirely borne by the Lions and other well-wishers. The Ministry of Health and the hospital authority are responsible for maintenance and management of the this multi -million Hemodialysis centre

The facility was built within 21 months amidst several interruptions due to the Covid-19 pandemic. During the first phase of this project, the dialysis centre is equipped with 07 ICU beds and could accommodate seven patients at a time with a total of more than 25 patients per day. They aim to provide this invaluable service free of charge to the innocent kidney patients who are always dependent on dialysis.

The centre was declared open by Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella in the presence of Lions dignitaries District Governor 2019-2020 Lion Mahinda Perera, Lion Mahendra Amarasooriya International President 2007-2008, District Governor 2021-2022 Lion Amal Nishantha Pussllage, Dr. Priyantha Karunaratne, Director, Colombo East Base Hospital, Ministry of health Officials, Lions dignitaries , donors and well-wishers.

The remarkable generosity that was shown by the Lions towards this meritorious project will pave the way for the destitute kidney patients of the country to be benefited by the services of the Lions Kidney Dialysis centre for a long period to come.