Government sets world record in providing free
health service to terrorists for 30 years
NADIRA GUNATILLEKE
At present the LTTE terrorists who fled from
Kilinochchi receive medical treatment at the Muliaitivu State Hospital
at the expense of the Sri Lankan Government. The Government provided
free health service to the Kilinochchi district till the Sri Lankan
armed forces captured the district on Friday.
The Government set a world record by providing free medical care for
the LTTE terrorists for a period of over 30 years. It was described as a
humanitarian move in keeping with international conventions.
According to the Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry sources, there is
a State hospital in the Kilinochchi district. There are several State
owned Central Dispensaries, other minor hospitals and health
institutions and they were administered by the Northern Provincial
Council.
But the Central Government (Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry)
ensured the supply of free health service to the Kilinochchi district,
especially drugs, because the Northern Provincial Council did not exist
since the LTTE took over the control of the Kilinochchi district.
Kilinochchi hospital carried out all its services in the past and
opted to a `limited service’ after the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)
fled to Mullaitivu. Under this limited service, the hospital treated
patients who sought medical treatment.
The patients who required surgery were transferred to either Jaffna
or Vavuniya hospital.
The Ministry had to provide a limited service because the staff of
Kilinochchi hospital fled to Mullaitivu with the civilians. A free
health service was supplied to the civilians. The Ministry provided free
health service even when it was under the control of the LTTE, the
sources said.
There were 19 MBBS doctors appointed by the Sri Lankan Government who
served in the Kilinochchi district under the control of the LTTE and 90
per cent of them were attached to the Kilinochchi hospital.
The Ministry continuously provided all required consignment of drugs,
medical equipment, human resources and other requirements during the
LTTE era of the Kilinochchi district. The ministry continues to provide
the same services to the Mullaitivu district without interruption.
According to the statistics issued by the Healthcare and Nutrition
Ministry, there are 11 small hospitals in Kilinochchi which come under
the Northern Provincial Council and some of them are functioning and
some of them are desolate.
A temporary hospital is established at Vishvamadu School to serve
IDPs. The Medical Supplies Division of the Healthcare and Nutrition
Ministry provided drugs worth Rs. 61 million for the year 2008.
Public health services including family health services and Malaria
Control Programme had functioned as usual and Thriposha is (the
nutrition supplement given to pregnant mothers and children) supplied
without interruption.
With the liberation of Kilinochchi by Sri Lankan armed forces the
Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry will be able to develop the health
sector in the district without any hazards.
The Ministry has already developed all hospitals and other State
health institutions in the Eastern Province and Jaffna.
Required human resources have been supplied to all health
institutions located in the East and Jaffna. There is no shortage of
drugs and staff in the Mullaitivu hospital where the injured LTTE
terrorists who fled from Kilinochchi are being treated at the moment. |
