After joining Jana Sarana, a prolific charitable organization in Sri Lanka, we have enjoyed the great opportunity to learn more about its staff and executive committee members. This group of employees and esteemed professionals are hard working and committed to public service. This is evident in that nearly all members in the executive committee have philanthropic interests outside of the efforts exclusive to Jana Sarana.
One such interest is that of Prabha Dharmaratne. More than one year ago Prabha became aware of a child living in the town of Kelaniya with a rare metabolic disorder that causes a deficiency in the body’s biotin levels. Biotin is extremely necessary for many cellular processes, especially the citric acid, or “Krebs’s” cycle of cellular respiration. Deficiency can cause hair loss, eye infections, skin conditions, and neurological disorders. Biotin deficiency is considered extremely rare as, generally, intestinal bacteria produce biotin in excess of the body’s daily requirements. The disease is actually related to a metabolic disorder, where the body lacks the enzymes that cleave biotin ligands from food source proteins, reducing its bioavailability. Put another way; the body can’t get the biotin from food sources, and thus supplementation is necessary. In addition, this particular case involves a secondary complication where a supplementary categorical enzyme deficiency prevents the body’s cells from using biotin effectively; furthering physical and neurological impairment.
The treatment prescribed by doctors for this young man, Isiru, age 8, is 30,000 MCG (30 mg) of biotin supplement ingested daily. This is a treatment that Isiru must follow for the rest of his life. Fortunately, biotin is available as a nutritional supplement and relatively easy to acquire. However, the family to which this child belongs survives on a limited income, and find it difficult to maintain the cost of the supplement.
In August of 2011 Bhante Sujatha and Michael Fronczak met the family and child, and presented them with a gift of a one-month supply of the supplement. The following month, an anonymous member of the Blue Lotus Buddhist Temple provided a one-year supply of biotin procured in the United States and delivered to the family by Michael Fronczak. This wonderful act of generosity brought tears to the eyes of the family, and was truly a great act.
In time, the supply of the supplement will diminish for this family, and we hope that in the future other generous donors may come forth to support this family in easing their burden. If you would like to learn more or contribute to this or similar causes please visitwww.bluelotustemple.org or www.sanathasuwaya.org