Sri Lanka

Background

In 2005, shortly after the tsunami, Dr. Martina Fuchs met Madumekala, an adolescent girl suffering from panhypopituitarism. At age 11, Madu was the height of a three year old. In an unsupported gesture of compassion, Dr. Fuchs chose to fund Madu's treatment for growth hormone therapy and initiated the supervision of this treatment through Ruhuna Medical College, Galle. While over the next two years, as RMF expanded this program to care for 6 more children suffering from long term health conditions, it was impossible to predict that this one act of compassion would initiate a country wide program to identify and treat over 120 more children suffering from human growth hormone deficiencies. 

Photo: Madumekala, Fazeer, Gayan, and Madura, 4 of our 5 children with parents and clinic staff

Summary of RMF-sponsored activities carried out during the reporting period under each project objective: 

• Organized and held 3 monthly meetings for the months of January, February, and March 2012.
• Information was collected from the children about their treatment progress at the monthly meetings. 
• Traveling expenses and nutritious food packages were provided for the children and their families.
• The monthly food parcels were handed over to the 5 children by Mr. Nishantha Sandakelum for the months of January, February & March 2012.

Madumekala:

• Madumekala is now 18 years old and has finished her schooling after sitting for the Ordinary Level Examiations.
• She had recently lost some weight this quarter (from approx. 24kg last quarter to approx. 22kg this quarter) but she has continued to grow in height.
• She is also the continuing Sex  Hormone Medication, Climen, at 1 Tablet daily

Fazeer Ahamed:  

• Fazeer participated in the monthly meetings with his Mother and visited our clinic regularly.
• He is studying in the 10^th grade, and his dosage of the Growth Hormone Therapy has continued at 10 clicks each night. He has gained height and weight this past quarter.

Madura Madushanka:

• Madura is now 15 years old, studies in Grade 11 and will take the Ordinary Level Government Examination in December of 2012.
• She has continued to gain height and weight this quarter with 7 clicks of growth hormone given each night.
• The medical authorities at Karapitiya Teaching Hospital are very satisfied with her progress.

Gayan Madushanka:

• There has been a slight increase in height since last quarter (145.6 to 146) and he has gained a kilo and a half during the quarter.
• The dosage of Growth Hormone Therapy continues at 9 clicks every night.  

Tharindu

• His cholesterol medication (Rosuvastatin and Ezetimibe) has been increased and he has been instructed to continue visiting the clinic each month.
• He also receives a food parcel with more grains and a packet of fat free milk powder.