Upgrade Maskeliya Hospital to Base Hospital

S. Duraisamy, Maskeliya Group corr.

MASKELIYA: People in Maskeliya town request Health Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva to visit the Maskeliya District Hospital and upgrade it as a Base Hospital. The District Hospital provides medical attention to thousands of plantation workers and the rural people.

This hospital was shifted from the old Maskeliya Town to a new location in 1968 where it is now, under the inundation of Maskeliya-Oya Hydro Power Project. During the period of the then UNP government, it was built as a Base Hospital in the area on an extent of nearly 10 acres.

The Hospital has a four storeyed building with six wards to serve the people of the area and estates. At the beginning all facilities were available for patients. But today it lacks several shortages in the medical field. There are shortages in the several categories of nurses, and staff. There is no Laboratory Assistant for the past 4 years. Thereby, the diabetics and blood pressure patients have been suffering a lot and they were compelled to go to Nuwara Eliya and Nawalapitiya Base Hospitals, spending more money on travelling and losing two days of wages or more. Too much inconveniences had occurred to patients.

Hence the general public urge the Minister of Health to visit the District Hospital, Maskeliya and upgrade the Hospital.

In addition it serves Sripada Pilgrims too during the Sripada Season for six months, in a year. The District Hospital must be provided with surgeons in various categories.

The Minister must also take steps to construct the District Hospital at Glencairan Dickoya where a project was inaugurated by the Minister for a Super Hospital with the Aid of Indian Government.