Two WHO experts for meningitis probe
 

by Bharatha Malawaraarachchi

Two experts from the World Health Organisation (WHO) are in Sri Lanka to assist investigations into the meningitis outbreak reported from the De Zoysa Maternity Hospital and two other hospitals during the last few weeks.

Dr. Yuan Hutin, Resident Advisor of the WHO in India and Dr. Ichchupuani, WHO Consultant Microbiologist are assisting Sri Lankan authorities probing the sudden outbreak of deadly meningitis.

"They are here on a request by Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva who sought WHO assistance for the investigation," a Ministry spokesman told the Daily News yesterday. The WHO experts will review the equipment, process and other facilities such as operating theatres of the affected hospitals and also the storage conditions at the Medical Supply Division.

"They will conduct extensive interviews with Ministry officials and relevant medical specialists and would present their technical report to the Ministry by next week," spokesman added.

Minister de Silva met these two experts at his Ministry premises and briefed them on the requirements of the Ministry.

"He requested them to work closely with Lankan experts and present a comprehensive report," the spokesman added.

So far, eight women have been infected with meningitis. Two of them have died of the illness. The others, including a woman doctor, are receiving treatment at the Colombo National Hospital.

Sources revealed that this meningitis outbreak was caused by low-standards syringes provided by a local manufacturer.

"Investigations have revealed that the outbreak could be attributed to a stock of syringes provided by a well-known local manufacturer. We have already stopped using them at Government Hospitals," the sources added.

It is now understood that this company had allegedly re-packed the disposable syringes and pasted a Chinese label to deceive the authorities."They have provided this stock to the Health Department."

The Medical Supply Division (MSD) of the Health Ministry is now under fire due to its failure to ensure the quality of pharmaceuticals provided to hospitals.

"Consultants and other professionals are demanding as to why the authorities are not investigating the MSD for its alleged failure to ensure the safety of the patients," sources added. The Health Ministry has decided to re-open the operations theatre of the De Zoysa Maternity Hospital following the assurance given by three medical specialists that the theatre was not the cause for spreading meningitis.