For innocent Sri Lankan’s who are susceptible to deadly kidney diseases , this is an effort to provide them with clean drinking water. To clean and clear water of heavy metal contaminants, and to provide water to areas that have no direct water access. This is the main goal of this project.
Due to the use of pesticides and chemicals that were used for farming purposes, test have revealed that toxic substances such as Arsenic, cadmium and mercury have entered the water table. Such toxins are extremely harmful for humans and are known to cause severe illness and death.
there are around 150,000 patients suffering from kidney diseases in the North Central province . Around 20,000 die annually from kidney related illnesses.
Will you sit idle whilst kidney diseases takes the lives of innocent people ?
North central province is vital in the production of rice in the country. Most people living in this area are innocent farmers who depending on farming to sustain their daily lives. These days the water in this area contains a murky taste. This is mainly due to the high content of chemicals present in the water base. Tests have shown that the main cause of such chemicals in the water base originated from pesticides and fertilizer used for farming. Toxins such as Arsenic,cadmium and mercury are mixed in with drinking water thus leading to deadly illnesses.
The residence living in this are not only use this water for drinking but also use the same contaminated water for cooking purposes as well. Due to this a large portion of innocent people in the north central province have been susceptible to deadly kidney illnesses. To explain further the epidemic? caused by unclean water, in areas such as Padavi Parakramapura research has found that 20% of the residence suffer from kidney illnesses.
There are many ways we can save our citizens from this deadly epidemic. The main course of action to protect the citizens of this area is to provide them with clean drinking water.
Even now small water purification centers have been established in certain areas. However the volume of clean water produced by these stations are not enough to meet the demand. There are long lines of people who have to wait for purification to be completed, and even small children have to make the long trip to get the service of the overcrowded purification centers. The picture above depicts a mother in the Padaviya area who is waiting in line with her child to collect clean water.
A majority of individuals living in this area live with very harsh economic constraints. Therefore they are in no position to fund a large water purification center for themselves. That is why your help is needed to build a large water purification center for the benefit of the citizens of these affected areas. This would be a kind and noble gift.
For individuals living in a corner of our own country , who do no have the opportunity to access a clean drop of water , and to provide them with much needed clean water was the motivation behind the Shraddha Pivituru Pan puja Project. With the help of this project water purification centers will be opened to prevent the spread of Kidney illnesses caused by contaminated water. The most effective method used to clean contaminants such as arsenic, cadmium and mercury is the process of reverse osmosis . ( RO)
Why should they be helped ?
A rough estimate for the cost of one water purification filter unit is RS 10 00000 and A housing has to be constructed to place the filter as well. A plan is underway to construct such units in villages with the help of village temples. Therefore local residents can obtain clean drinking water with the assistance of the local temple.
To be a part of this project and have the opportunity to collect merits, you can participate by means mentioned below .
1 Shraddha Clean water project initial donations
To take part in this meritorious project , you can provide financial assistance in an amount of your choosing the donated funds should be deposited at the below mentioned bank account.
Bank:: Sampath Bank – Kaduwela
Ac Number:: 1162 1399 8878
Ac Name:: Shraddha Media Network
The receipt that you received after depositing the funds should be marked as “pivithuru pan pooja” and be mailed to Shraddha Tv or Emailed to info@purewater.lk
2 Participation of companies for the Shraddha Clean water project.
Your company or the company you work for can be involved in this meritorious endeavour. Here your company can sponsor a water purification center for a village or multiple villages , under the guidance of Shraddah tv
3. Additional equipment donations for Shraddha Clean water project.
You can take part in this meritorios project by donating the water tanks needed for this project or helping with the construction of the housing unit that stores the purification station.
4 volunteering for the construction of purification centers
for times and opportunities for volunteering your skills and abilities , please consult the Shraddha webpage
If you like more information on this meritorious project please contact 070 6432836
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97 වන ජල පිරිපහදු මධ්‍යස්ථානය බැරලෝහ මිශ්‍ර අපිරිසිදු ජල පරිභෝජනය හේතුවෙන් අප මාතෘභූමියේ ප්‍රදේශ ගණනාවක පැතිර යන වකුගඩු අක්‍රිය වීමේ මාරාන්තික රෝගයෙන් පීඩාවට පත් අපේම
96 වන ජල පිරිපහදු මධ්‍යස්ථානය බැරලෝහ මිශ්‍ර අපිරිසිදු ජල පරිභෝජනය හේතුවෙන් අප මාතෘභූමියේ ප්‍රදේශ ගණනාවක පැතිර යන වකුගඩු අක්‍රිය වීමේ මාරාන්තික රෝගයෙන් පීඩාවට පත් අපේම
Due to the use of chemical pesticides and the incorporation of heavy metals in the water table present in the North Central province and adjoining provinces ,also due to the consumption of this water by local residents , Chronic kidney disease or CKD is an epidemic that is fast spreading. Within the last 8 to 10 years this epidemic has been one of the most serious health concerns in sri lanka. Since the root cause for this illness was not found until recently it was known as the Unidentified kidney disease. The difference with this kidney disease and other kidney diseases is that the patient does not show any symptoms for a long period of time, and are hidden from view . Eventually ending in death . specifically young individuals and individuals who are in the agriculture industry , who are between the ages of 40 and 60 are the most susceptible. The disease was first reported in 1992 and since that there have been reports of thousands of cases
Chronic kidney disease does not shut down the kidney instantly, but it shuts down the kidney gradually over a period of years. It has been found that the shutting down of the kidney occurs in 5 stages. The final or 5th stage being the full shut down of the kidney, and is known as the last stage of kidney disease.When an individual reaches this stage the kidney is at the final stages of shut down or is non functional. At this stage a patient has to go through the blood cleaning process of Dialysis or implanting of a new donor kidney . Due to the fact that the symptoms of this illness remain hidden in the initial stages, patients are unaware of the seriousness of their condition until the 5th and final stage
Kidney Disease that is spreading rapidly in North Central, Sri Lanka
Situated north of the Anuradahpura district is Vavuniya , Mulitivu and Mannar districts, situated south of Anuradahpura is the Kurunagala and Matale districts, Puttalam situated in the west along with Pollonaruwa and Trincomalee districts situated in the east of Anuradahpura. Anuradapura district is the largest district in the country with its land area covering 10% of the country ( 7,179 square km). There are roughly 860,000 residents in Anuradahpura . It also consists of 649 villages , whilst a majority of its residents belong to the agriculture industry. Up to now the highest reported kidney illnesses have been reported from the Anuradahpura district . Roughly there are 1350 new cases reported each year. This relates to 20% of residents in Anuradahpura suffering from Kidney diseases . According to studies done by Dr Ranasinghe ,2823 patients from Maddavachchi alone , 2464 patients from Padaviya , 933 patients from kabatigillawa have been identified. To emphasize the seriousness of this situation , there are around 2000 individuals who die on a yearly basis in Anuradhapura. These statistics are only from individuals who pass away in hospitals .
Apart from the Anuradahpura district , Polonnaruwa , Giranthurukotte , and Ampara districts have reported a high rate of patients suffering from kidney ailments. According to surveys conducted it is reported that 25% of the population in the Polonnaruwa districts suffer from Kidney related illnesses. When looking at this statistic it is clear that the percentage of affected individuals are very high. According to the government doctors association , There are 150,000 patients in the North Central province. Around 20,000 people pass away from kidney diseases, and there are large numbers of patients suffering from Kidney related illnesses in hospitals in the North Central province.
Based on the current situation, this illness is on track to consume more lives than the 30 year civil war in Sri lanka. A majority of individuals who suffer from this illness are males between the ages of 30 -50 , who work in the agriculture sector. Since these group of people include fathers, husbands and brothers who are the primary breadwinners in the family, their families have faced harsh economic hardship. Mr N.H.M Gamini Himiduma who is the principle of Poojagaspanguwa Mahawidyalaya in Shripura, states that around 50 of his students have lost both mother and father to this illness. One can clearly see the amount of social hardship caused by this deadly illness . It is also reported that this disease is spreading to adjoining areas
What is the cause of this outbreak ?
The health ministry and the World health organisation have teamed up to find the reason for this deadly illness. Also Universities in Sri lanka and Universities around the world have conducted independent studies to determine the exact cause . A majority consensus of this study is that the consumption of water that includes toxic elements has directly lead to Kidney diseases. Also tests done by the University of Kalaniya scientific research division , have found that due to the presence of Cadmium, Arsenic , Mercury , and heavy metals in the water being consumed by the residents in this area , have directly contributed to this illness. This has also been confirmed by other tests done by researchers. Since agriculture is prevalent in the North Central province , tests have shown that not only surface water, but also water below the surface area have been contaminated.
Tests conducted by Prefesore Dr Channa Jayasumana of the Univercity of Rajarata, Professor Sarath Gunathilaka and professor Priyantha Senanayaka of the university of California , have shown that Glyphosate which is a chemical present in pesticides mixed with heavy metals creates a substance that also directly impacts the kidneys .
Studies have also shown that individuals who consume water from clean natural springs in this area do not show any symptoms of kidney disease. Therefore based on all evidence present , it is clear that contaminated water is the clear the reason for Kidney related illnesses.
Due to this tragedy that has been caused by consuming unclean toxic water, and the harsh effects of Kidney disease that follow , we at Shraddah tv along with The Kalaniya university Scientific research division, and the Civil defence department , have teamed up for Shraddah Pivithuri Pan Pooja. This Project will be executed under the stages described below
Determining if water quality in the affected areas is suitable for consumption. , This will be done by inspecting all sources of water with the help of the water board and the Kelaniya University. Direct assistance will be given Clean Water Project by the above mentioned establishments and water quality will be tested up to international standards. Later the suitability or unsuitability of a specific water dispensing location will be clearly marked and indicated. Local residents will be educated on suitable locations to collect water thereby giving them the opportunity to choose proper water dispensing locations. The goal of the first stage is to test as many water dispensing locations as possible and to use these data to help with the upcoming stages of Clean Water Project.
whilst the first stage is being implemented, The second stage will come into play simultaneously using the data collected. Areas that have the most contaminated water , and villages with the highest number of Kidney diseases , will receive large water purification centers. These purification centers will provide adequate year round clean water supply. These centers will also be very accessible for local residents, and purification units will also be established in areas where residents can easily access. Reverse osmosis will be used in the purification process. Using this process the toxins such as Arsenic , Cadmium , Magnesium and mercury will be filtered out , and the water purified to levels that are suitable for consumption. Later the water will be stored in large holding tanks to be distributed easily.
Whilst the first two stages are in affect, simultaneous the third stage will be initiated. The third stage will focus on an education programs for the individuals in the affected areas , on what steps should be taken to prevent this disease. Special focus will be given towards educating people on the reasons of water contamination by pesticides , and also the importance of drinking clean water. Information will also be provided on ways to prevent kidney disease.
To experience life and to win at life. Let your humanity be a guiding light in their time of darkness . This is you time to help.