July 30, Colombo (LNW): In recognition of its commendable efforts, the Ministry of Health lauded the Sri Lanka Navy for its support to people living with thalassaemia patients at a ceremony held on 29 July 2024.
The Navy has been instrumental in developing affordable thalassaemia infusion systems, a crucial tool for administering chelation therapy to remove excess iron from the body.
The event, attended by the Minister of Health, Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, and the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera, celebrated the Navy’s innovative approach.
Since the inception of this project in 2011, the Navy’s Research and Development Unit has produced and supplied 3,166 infusion systems to hospitals and people living with thalassaemia nationwide.
During the ceremony, 375 newly produced infusion systems were handed over to the Ministry of Health.
Dr. Pathirana and Vice Admiral Perera symbolically presented these systems to five people living with thalassaemia, highlighting the Navy’s ongoing commitment to healthcare.
The event also saw the attendance of other notable figures, including Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena and Secretary of Health Dr. P.G. Maheepala, along with senior Navy officials.