Help Pediatric Cancer Patients in Sri Lanka

As many of you have seen on mainstream and social media, Sri Lanka is currently in the midst of an unprecedented economic and political crisis (see the links below for more details). What you may not have seen is the impact that it has had on a large portion of the populace. The lack of food, medicine, fuel and other essentials has deprived the basic needs of the citizens of this island nation that once boasted the highest HDI in all of South Asia. Of all things in short supply, the lack of vital, life-saving medicines has caused the most hardship and resulted in the loss of many lives.

(links:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-61028138 https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/05/asia/sri-lanka-economic-crisis-explainer-intl-hnk/index.html)

Without proper funding, the healthcare system has been severely impacted and is on the verge of collapsing. Doctors of public hospitals are pleading for donations and help from overseas as they face massive shortages of medical supplies, including various drugs and equipment for surgery. Unfortunately, pediatric patients, who are the innocent victims of this crisis, are the ones who are suffering the most.

What I'm doing to help:

I am Jenaya Jayakody, a high school student from Toronto (I created this fundraiser under my mother Gowri Amarasekera's name, as per GoFundMe requirements). Currently, the Pediatric Oncology ward of the Apeksha Hospital, Maharahama, Sri Lanka, is in need of drugs and lab items. I have already raised funds from my family members and relatives and have donated five boxes of cytofunnels to the hospital’s pediatric leukemia ward. Since the donation was successful and well received, I am looking to raise even more funds to provide supplies for patients in need at the Apeksha Hospital.

The quotation, invoice, and letter of appreciation I received from Dr. Poddalgoda, Deputy Director, are attached below.

The Deputy Director has provided a request for additional medical supplies, and I hope to raise $1800 with your kind donations to provide these essential medical items.

How donations will be used:

Below is a list of items and quotations received from the local vendors. Currently, I am trying to raise money for more cytofunnels, Meropenem vials, and BD BACTEC blood culture bottles.

Other than the GoFundMe transaction fees (2.9% + $0.30), all funds will be sent directly to the supplier who is already part of the hospital's procurement process through my great-aunt, Ms. Thalatha Ruberu, who is in contact with the hospital ward. Please be assured that all your kind donations are used to purchase the above items and will not be wasted on multiple intermediaries.

I'm so grateful to you for taking the time to read my plea and making a donation to this great cause. Together, I believe that we will be able to help severely sick children and make a difference in their lives. Thank you!

Additional information about equipment needed:

How cytofunnels are used:

Leukemia is a group of blood cancers that usually begin in the bone marrow. Using bone marrow from patients, the cytofunnels are placed into a cytocentrifuge for thin-layer cell preparations. This allows samples to be properly observed and tested.

How Meropenem vials will be used:

Meropenem is used to treat febrile neutropenia, a condition that often occurs in cancer patients that receive anticancer drugs to suppress bone marrow formation.

How BD BACTEC blood culture bottles will be used:

The blood culture media can be used to screen for microorganisms present in the blood.

BD BACTEC™ Peds Plus™ blood culture bottles are used to detect common pediatric and nonpediatric organisms, as well as antibiotic neutralization.

BD BACTEC™ Plus Aerobic blood culture bottles are used to neutralize antibiotics present in the sample.

Exchange rate: 1 CAD = 275 LKR (as of August 22, from xe.com)