The President made this statement while speaking at the Kidney Disease Prevention Monitoring Committee meeting that was held on Thursday (May 14th).

Addressing the committee meeting the President pointed out that it is a timely need to launch a program that would educate the public on kidney related diseases at a village level.

The President’s Media unit said that President Sirisena had also said that a day dedicated to creating awareness on kidney related issues should be declared. The Media Unit also said that a decision was reached during the meeting to provide clean drinking water to areas that have a high concentration of victims who suffer from kidney diseases.

Several proposals including the setting up of a database for those who had contracted kidney related diseases, the setting up of an independent unit within the Health Ministry and setting up special centers for kidney disease within 12 districts of the country were approved at the meeting.