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| Saturday, 18 October 2003 |
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150th free health camp today by Manjula Fernando 'Taking health care to the door step of the poor,' was the humane concept which drove Dr.Lakshman Weerasena to pioneer the first free health camp in Sri Lanka in 1991. It has since continued as a service unbroken for the past decade benefiting over half a million poor people in the remotest areas of the country. So far 149 health camps have been held including two in the Jaffna district after the ceasefire was declared by the government and the LTTE.
"Even the LTTE members visited this camp to receive expert medical attention," said the doctor with a sense of fulfilment knowing there was a high regard towards the service rendered through free health camps, irrespective of their race, cast or creed. Flanked by his equally dedicated colleagues, seniors and juniors alike, the camps have travelled across the country from remote areas in the South to most difficult areas in the East and the hill country. "We have come a long way since our first camp on December,15 1991 at the Capt.Seneviratne Hall in Mahiyanganaya. At the time it was very difficult to convince my fellows of the importance of this service. However, we ended up with treating nearly 1200 patients that day with a meagre staff of only seven doctors. Today, the Health camp offer free service of several dozens of specialised consultant doctors including the top brass in the field. They have offered to take a full day out of their very busy schedules to join this worthy cause. A publicity van is provided by the Smithkline Beecham Glaxo company to spread the news of their service prior to the event and a mobile laboratory by Mediquik team helps the doctors to carry out definite diagnosis of the illnesses before treatment on the spot. More serious cases are being referred to hospitals and many patients who needed medical attention in Colombo had undergone treatment at the expense of the health camp organisers and volunteers. According to Dr.Weerasena there were people who saw a properly qualified doctor for the first time in their entire life calling at these camps and patients who were suffering from curable but fatal illnesses for long periods not knowing their condition. Once the consultant cancer specialist Dr.Balawardena had detected 20 cases of malignant at a single camp at Suriyawewa. The Free health camp team calls at the same place after six months to monitor the patients that they have treated. The 50th camp was again held in Mahiyanganaya. "It was the biggest health camp that we held. There were 72 doctors in attendance. The Diyatalawa Army Camp soldiers helped to put up temporary tents to house the doctors and the patients. The response from the people were overwhelming and we ended up treating over 10,300 patients that day," Dr.Weerasena said. The doctor expressed his gratitude to the Nestle Lanka Ltd. which had been helping the camp from the day one providing a drink and a light meal to all the patients calling at the camps as well as J.K.Marketing Ltd. who provides a snack for the medical and paramedical teams. The Health camp team so far has donated 32 nebulisers to remote dispensaries and medical units to treat acutely ill asthmatic. During a camp at Galgamuwa in the North Central Province where a reported number of 900 people die each year due to venomous snake and other reptile bites, a large donation of anti venom vials was made to the rural hospitals. The 100th camp has been held in memory of late father of Dr.Weerasena, B.D.S.Weerasena at his home town in Dondra with 46 doctors in attendance. A total of 6700 patients were treated there. Dr. Nalin Jayatunga (GP), Dr.S.R.Ratnayake Obstetrician, Dr.Lakshman Ranasinghe (skin specialist), Dr.Upuli Ranasinghe (eye surgeon), Prof.S.P.Lamabadusuriya (Paediatrician), Dr.Upali Mendis (eye surgeon), Prof.Nalaka Mendis (psychiatrist), late Dr.Clarence Peiris, Dr.Lakshman Senanayake (consultant obstetrician), Dr.Geetha Senanayake (consultant radiologist) and Dr.Swarna Premawansa (GP) had been attending the health camp on a frequent basis from the begging. Dr. Weerasena concluded the interview with the following message: Think of the less fortunate of our motherland who have absolutely no medical facilities and who are suffering in silence. Spare at least 3 days of the year for the sake of these poor and helpless patients to provide them some hope and relief. The 150th free health camp will be held at the Municipal Indoor Stadium in Nuwara Eliya to benefit the plantation workers, today. |
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