1st pediatric bone marrow transplant unit opened at Apeksha Hospital
The first unit in the country dedicated to bone marrow and blood cell transplantation for children with cancer was inaugurated today (Jan. 02) at the Apeksha Hospital in Maharagama.
The construction of this unit was funded by donations from the historic Ruhunu Maha Kataragama Devalaya and carried out by the Sri Lanka Air Force.
This new unit provides an opportunity for a large number of children with cancer to receive timely and advanced treatments, which previously required traveling abroad at a cost of millions of rupees.
The unit has the capacity to treat four children simultaneously, offering hope and improved healthcare outcomes for young patients.
Venerable Kobawaka Dhamminda Thero, Chief Incumbent of Kirivehera Temple, expressed his gratitude, stating, “The funds donated by devotees to seek the blessings of the Kataragama deity have now been transformed into this hospital. I believe that the hundreds of thousands of people who contributed will be very happy to know that they have also played a part in this noble cause.”
Dishan Gunasekara, Basnayake Nilame of Ruhunu Maha Kataragama Devalaya, highlighted the transparency and growth in temple transactions, noting, “When I became the Basnayake Nilame, the temple’s income was around 50 million rupees. Last year, it exceeded 400 million rupees, an eightfold increase. With the funds available, we were able to construct this building and are currently upgrading the Kataragama Hospital with a new complex of 44 beds, which is 80% complete.”