Uplift for health facilities in Wayamba - Minister Jayaratne Herath

Ariyapala Wansathilaka -Kurunegala Central special correspondent

Minister of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Jayaratne Herath said 160 sanitation workers of the North Western Provincial Health Service have been promoted to the labourer cadre.

A ceremony for presenting appointment letters was held at the health complex at Puwakgashandiya, Kurunegala. Minister Jayaratne Herath said the North Western Province Health Authority is currently carrying out a programme for the uplift of health facilities in the rural hospitals and the dispensaries of Wayamba.

He said the health service is of a high standard compared to the developed countries. We have allocated more funds for the health sector in 2008 than in 2007.

The Minister said we have taken steps to decentralise the hospital facilities of the rural hospitals. We have improved facilities for treatment of "Thalassaemia" in Kurunegala hospital. Last month we established a cardiology unit in the Kurunegala hospital. We are not going to take political mileage.

Our intention is to create a sound health policy in the country. We are going to educate people on Thalassaemia and rat fever disease.

The Minister pointed out to the workers that we have been allocated Rs. 2 billion to develop the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital. We have been given a mandate by the people. We will do our duty as we pledged to the people.