Mental Hospital calls for public help

patientcare: Mental Hospital Director Consultant Psychiatrist Dr. Jeyan Mendis who is also the President of the College of Psychiatry, Sri Lanka yesterday appealed for help from the well-to-do in public to improve patientcare services in the hospital.

He was speaking to the Health Watch on the improvements he is effecting in the hospital to upgrade the patientcare and rehabilitation services, which now need public assistance to continue and expand.

No staff training scheme

He said one of the greatest set backs to patientcare services in the hospital was lack of facilities to train staff, as the hospital never had a proper staff training scheme from the very beginning.

Since he took over as the hospital head two years ago, with much difficulty and effort he has been able to initiate a scheme to overcome this problem by getting a team of staff comprising 16 nurses, 2 occupation therapists, and 2 Medical officers trained in Psychosocial rehabilitation at the National Institute of Mental Health, Bangalore, India.

New State Training

Institute setup

They are now back and is working in a new staff Training Institute of Psychiatry opened up in Colombo on February 16, 2006.

They are also now in the process of training the much needed staff in batches to upgrade the patientcare services.

Help needed

There are certain consumable items needed for this training which costs about Rs. 100,000 a month.

"It is here that I need public cooperation and help since I want to speed up this work, and don't like Government red tape delays and paper work to block it. I am asking for public donations, and making this appeal through the HeathWatch, which is a well recognised health page read by most of the professionals in the country. Those interested in helping could please contact me on 0714 760 795 Dr. Mendis said.

Dr. Mendis added; "This is the best Vesak pandal you can erect in the Mental Hospital, Angoda that will permanently illuminate the patientcare services of the mentally affected, and help in their speedy recovery."

Some of the monthly needs for the hospital patients training and rehabilitation unit for which public help is being sought are: Fabric paints, pastel colour boxes, colour pencil boxes, bristol boards, wool different colours, Velona cloth, polythene, spray bottles, regifoam boards, glitter pens.

Medical Crossword health education feature commended

Crossword Draw: Consultant Neurologist and the Sports and Youth Affairs Ministry's Sports Medicine Unit head Dr. Githanjan Mendis commended HeathWatch last week for successfully introducing the medical crossword feature in April 2004 and continuing it without a break for nearly two years now.

He was taking part in the Medical Crossword Draw no. 20 held at the Sports Medicine Unit auditorium at Independence Square, Colombo as the chief guest in the event.

He said Daily News medical page HealthWatch has brought credit to Sri Lanka in the field of health education through this new 'crossword print media way' which is no small achievement, as there is a lot of scope to develop it further for better preventive health.

He said the best evidence for this is the Singapore Parkway Healthcare Group of Hospitals sponsoring consolation prizes in the crossword and thus joining this new project, and making available the specialists in this group of hospitals to offer advice and answer any queries from HealthWatch readers on medical topics.

Dr. Mendis said on an earlier occasion too he was able to host one of the medical crossword draws. He said he was always ready to help HealthWatch in its projects in whatever way possible. He also commended Novartis Medical Nutrition for rightly joining with the HealthWatch in sponsoring the Medical Crossword.

Mr. David P. P. Chen (Corporate Marketing South Asia Parkway Group Healthcare Pte Ltd) participating in the event said the new Crossword Health Education way started by the HealthWatch was remarkable, and needed support. The Parkway Group would look into the possibilities of expanding its association with the Daily News Health Page to further public health education in the country through the media.

HealthWatch Co-ordinator and Compiler Edward Arambewala on behalf of the Editor Daily News thanked Sports Medicine Unit Head Dr. Githanjan Mendis, Parkway Healthcare Group Corporate Marketing Manager South Asia David P.P. Chen and Groups Shuvo Hridayesh Managing Director Royal Hospital, Wellawatta, Dinesh Ranaweera, Dr. Viraj Peramuna Sports Medicine Unit, Doctors Shiromi Pilapitiya, Sivali Jayawickreme, Duminda Attanayake for their presence and all the help given to conduct the draw successfully and the prize winners and their family members for their presence.

Novartis 10th anniversary

Last week April 28 was the 10th anniversary of the founding of Novartis. Since our Novartis Medical Nutrition sponsored HealthWatch Medical Crossword Draw No. 20 also took place on this day. The event was celebrated in a small way by cutting a 'birthday cake'.

The short speech on Novartis Madu Siriwardena said Novartis was able to support citizenship initiatives that reach millions of patients worldwide. They are particularly proud of these achievements, which have set them apart from others.

Novartis was one of the first companies to sign the United Nations Global Compact, which promotes respect for human rights, environmental protection and anti-corruption efforts. We have undertaken significant initiatives to improve access to medicines, helping patients with tuberculosis and leprosy as well as providing the leading malaria treatment Coartem at no profit to millions of patients in a partnership with the WHO.

In 2005, Novartis donated about USD 700 million worth of products to access programmes, representing about 2% of our annual group sales significantly more than what most countries provide in development aid as a percentage of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

We are also investing in the future. The Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases (NITD) in Singapore, which was opened in 2004, is dedicated to discovering new treatments for tuberculosis and Dengue fever, neglected diseases that affect millions of people worldwide. Our contributions have been widely recognised.

One of the most significant achievements has been our improvement in the annual Fortune Magazine ranking of global pharmaceutical companies, moving from seventh place in 2001 to second in 2005. Other surveys have confirmed our top ranking, making clear the impact that our medicines, commitment to society and talented associates have had on our reputation.

Novartis Medical Nutrition Sponsored

Healthwatch Medical Crossword draw no. 20 - winners

1st Prize Rs. 3000 : Entry No. 173 Dr. V.Sri Kantha, Seagul Mansion, 4/5/3 55th Lane, Colombo 6.

2nd Prize Rs. 2000: Entry No 36 N. Imbulana, No. 9 Wasala Road, Dehiwala.

3rd Prize Rs. 1000 : Entry No. 118 Nilusha Himali, Mihira Motors, Hattiniya, Marawila.

Three special consolation prizes of Rs. 1000 each offered by Parkway Group HealthCare Pte Ltd, Singapore.

(1) Parkway Consolation prize Rs. 1000: Entry No. 109 Nalini de Croos, No. 27 Rukmani Devi Mawatha, Negombo.

(2) Parkway Consolation prize Rs. 1000: Entry No. 106 Thilini Weerasuriya, No. 17 Sangabo Mawatha, Borupona Rd, Ratmalana.

(3) Parkway Consolation prize Rs. 1000: Entry No. 79 Lakshman Pieris, No. 27, Richard Pamunuwa Mawatha, Matale.

Three Medical check-ups offered by Royal Hospital, Wellawatte.

(1) Entry No. 170: G.H. Indratissa de Silva, No 382/8, Ratnarama Road, Hokandara.

(2) Entry No. 112: W. Meadows, No. 42 A, School Avenue, Dehiwala.

(3) Entry No. 160 : Dorothy Peiris, No. 55/2A, Pahalawela Rd. Pelawatta, Battaramulla.

Three Medical Nutrition packs from Novartis

(1) Entry No. 101 : Nalini de Silva, Ambatale Water Plant, Mulleriyawa.

(2) Entry No. 5 : Aloma Fernando, 23/1, 2nd Cross Lane, Ratmalana.

(3) Entry No. 148 : L. Portia Serasinghe, 135, Hewagama, Kaduwela.

Our warmest congratulations to all the winners, and we also thank all those who entered this crossword competition and wish them better luck next time - HealthWatch, Novartis Medical Nutrition, Parkway Group Healthcare Pte Ltd, Singapore, Royal Hospital, Wellawatte.

We also wish to thank Sports Institute of Medicine head Dr. Githanjan Mendis for hosting the draw at the Institute Auditorium.

Coping with stress in Married Life

We invite all interested to attend Health Quest Talk No 2 by Dr. Jeyan Mendis, Consultant Psychiatrist and Medical Director, Mental Hospital, Angoda and President, College of Psychiatrists, Sri Lanka.

The talk will be held on Saturday, May 20 from 10 am to 12 noon at the Lionel Memorial Auditorium, Sri Lanka Medical Association, Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 7. This is the second in the Health Quest series of talks sponsored by Philio Biotics, Colombo.