The nuncio gave the Ministry of Health a donation for hospitals worth more than 25 thousand euros. Through Caritas Sri Lanka, a particularly serious need was identified in the country, overwhelmed by the economic crisis. Every year 10,500 Sri Lankans die from kidney failure without being able to receive adequate treatment.
Colombo () – Pope Francis recently donated medicines to Sri Lanka, which is going through an unprecedented economic crisis. The apostolic nuncio in the country, Monsignor Brian Udaigwe, delivered the medicines to Asela Gunawardena, general director of Sanitary Services of the Ministry of Health, in the presence of leaders and officials of the Catholic Church and the Government.
The extraordinary aid was coordinated by Caritas Sri Lanka, which, according to the ministry, identified a particularly needed medicine in the country. The choice fell on “tacrolimus”, an essential drug for the treatment of kidney diseases, which was purchased from an Indian manufacturer with the allocation of just over 10 million Sri Lankan rupees (more than 25,000 euros).
When delivering the donation, the Apostolic Nuncio said that the Pope is concerned about the situation in the country and wants to personally offer his help. “He receives many requests from many countries,” he explained, “and whatever he receives from benefactors is distributed to the communities that need it most.” Monsignor Udaigwe also stressed the importance of integral human development, especially in the physical and spiritual.
“Medicines will be distributed to hospitals in Anuradhapura (central province), Karapitiy (southern province), Vavuniya (northern province) and others identified by the ministry based on the seriousness of the situation and the needs,” he told Sajith Silva of Caritas Sri Lanka.
In Sri Lanka, chronic kidney disease is a serious and growing problem causing considerable hardship, especially among the poorest population. According to statistics, in 2020, 164,000 patients were diagnosed with these types of conditions, resulting in up to 10,500 deaths. Some studies estimate that almost 10% of the Sri Lankan population suffers from forms of kidney failure whose causes are not clearly known. Diseases that in the current crisis the country strives to diagnose and treat properly, hence the high number of deaths.
