Over to you Health Minister

I am a high blood pressure patient. For the last several years, I go for treatment once in every month on a Thursday, to the Medical Clinic, Room No. 5 of the Colombo South Teaching Hospital, Kalubowila.

More than 350 patients who attend this clinic on Thursdays and Tuesdays mainly consists of heart, high blood pressure and diabetes patients.

Since of late, only about 40 per cent of the total number of about 350 patients are examined and pressure checked by the handful of doctors present. The exercise books are collected by an attendant of the other 60 per cent patients, along with the prescription card and taken to the few doctors present.

After an interval, the exercise books and the prescription cards are returned to the patients. In the exercise books only the next date to attend the clinic and the queue number are entered. In the prescription cards the same drugs which were prescribed on the previous month are entered. As a result, 60 per cent of the patients are disappointed, and frustrated as they were not examined by the doctors, as their blood pressure was not checked.

A few months ago, I personally met the Director, Colombo South Teaching Hospital and explained the situation. He requested me to put the matter in writing. I did so, and since then I have attended the clinic on two occasions and see no improvement whatsoever.

On the last occasion, the patients were angry but did not know what to do. I am representing this matter on behalf of all the (hundreds) poor helpless frustrated patients, so that the authorities of the Ministry of Health would investigate and rectify the anomaly.

I am sure this is a very wrong and medically unethical procedure to follow. The poor patients are helpless. Due to this procedure, the blood pressure of some patients have not been measured for several months.

High Blood Pressure Patient

Over to you chairmen UC, CEB and RDA

The rapid deterioration of the basic services provided to the residents of Nawala by the Urban Council and other authorities is causing anxiety. What is distressing is that despite the inconvenience caused to the ratepayers, this seems to be of little concern to the authorities.

The nonchalant attitude of the Urban Council, Ceylon Electricity Board and Road Development Authorities have virtually driven the residents to a state of despair and frustration.

Electricity failures occur with monotonous regularity. The failures are often for prolonged periods from five minutes to five hours. While the stoppage of electricity for maintenance work is understandable, the stoppages are often beyond the notified periods.

Children's studies are interrupted. Sensitive electric and electronic equipment is damaged, household work and professional work is affected. Security is impaired as thefts occur during prolonged power failures.

Despite representations made to the authorities, the electricity company apparently remains unmoved. Even to report a failure to the 'Breakdown - Unit' the number listed is never accessible. Is this the price we have to pay for privatisation? While the charges for electricity is escalating, the service provided is deteriorating.

Road maintenance is afforded very low priority. Only the roads that lead to Parliament are of concern. Roads are not levelled and dotted with huge pot-holes and covered with slime at certain places. Apart from the damage and wear and tear to vehicles, it is a positive driving hazard. In Koswatte, all roads were given new nameboards except Orchid Place and some other by-roads.

Nawala is also plagued by mosquitoes. Systematic spraying is not done despite the health authorities regularly warning of Malaria and Dengue.

The ratepayers find it difficult to understand the indifference of the authorities. Is it that Kotte is their main concern being the administrative capital while Nawala will continue to receive Cinderella treatment it has always received? Are not the ratepayers entitled to expect the basic facilities and conveniences? Telephone calls and letters to the Urban Council and related authorities have been of little effect and nobody apparently cares.

It is timely to look into these aspects and also impress upon all officers that they should be receptive to the complaints of ratepayers and deal with them with courtesy.

ROSHANTHA FERNANDO, Nawala