COLOMBO: The 31st of May 2021 saw the successful culmination of Project Virya; an initiative led by the 2007 Batch of Musaeus College to improve the facilities at the only operational ECMO Centre in the country. Through Project Virya, a CRRT or continuous renal replacement therapy machine was imported and installed at the Karapitya Hospital where the ECMO Centre or the Galle Extracorporeal Life Support Association is located. The ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) machine is used to support the functions of the heart and lungs of a patient in critical condition. Many patients who suffer from such heart and lung disorders also experience kidney failure. Now, with the use of this CRRT machine which is compatible with the ECMO machine in Sri Lanka, it will be possible to support the kidney functioning of such patients.
The ECMO Centre is administered by Dr. (Ms.) Tolusha Harischandra; a renowned cardiothoracic surgeon and Dr. (Ms.) Kapilani Withanarachchi a well respected neonatologist. The Project Virya team is thankful to the two doctors for the guidance and support extended throughout the project and hope that the machine will make a difference in the healthcare services available in the country, especially during these times where many patients require life support machines.
Project Virya came to life after the demise of Dr. Gayan Dantanarayana; the first medical professional who fell victim to COVID-19 in Sri Lanka. ‘Dr. Dantanarayana was the spouse of one our batch mates and we were deeply disturbed by how such a young life was lost to the Corona Virus’, stated a team member of Project Virya.
We had not carried out a project of this nature and we were reluctant at first as to how we would manage this. There were many who believed in us and supported us including our families, friends and of course, our Principal, Mrs. Nelum Senadira who endorsed the project and encouraged us to move forward. We never expected to raise LKR 4.2Mn in a month, we thought it would take us about three months when we started. The project picked up momentum and we opened out three avenues for people to donate; via an account at DFCC Bank, a Facebook fund raiser and through an account opened with the platform Go Fund Me. Maliban Biscuits (Private) Limited made the largest doantion of LKR 1.5Mn to the project as they were keen to be a part of a worthy cause such as Project Virya. In total we collected LKR 5.895,315.08, which overwhelmed us. We are proud to say that we managed to get the CRRT machine and CytoSorb vials for the hospital with the money. In addition, we have ordered a dozen cannulae to be used at the ECMO Centre which will reach Sri Lanka within 02 weeks. The severe shortage of medical supplies in the country led to us having to wait for the cannulae to be imported.
The team members that led Project Virya include Yasaara Kaluaratchi, Sanara Wevagedara, Nipuni Rupasinghe, Yasara Kumanayake, Apeksha Wijesooriya, Buddhika Lekamge,Geethani Kotugoda, Hasini Abeywardena, Lekani Hewapanna and Praveeni Jayasekera
The Team Project Virya thanks everyone who donated, supported and contributed their time and effort in the quest to give another human being a new lease of life. The team behind Project Virya is confident that they would be able to collectively continue to carry out meritorious activities in future as well. Anyone who wishes to obtain clarifications on the project may write to them at projectvirya@gmail.com
