More medical officers to Vavuniya

Harshini PERERA

207 medical officers have been dispatched to Vavuniya to attend to the IDPs in the North, Health Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said.

The medical officers have been provided with accommodation for the duration of their services.

There are six mobile medical centres in Vavuniya where one centre is run by the Government of India. "The French Government promised another medical centre equipped with surgeries. This will be constructed by tomorrow. Moreover, 1,000 beds will be supplied to these medical centres by the Health Ministry. 50 student nurses were also dispatched while Sarvodaya assisted with 150 volunteers for the humanitarian assistance to the IDPs. He said about 25 percent of children suffering from malnutrition who were given prompt treatment with the involvement of UNICEF, Family Health Bureau and Sarvodaya.

Meanwhile WHO representative of Sri Lanka, Dr. Firdos Rustam Mehtha said that swine flu or swine influenza reached the fifth phase which was one below the pandemic level whereas the situation in Sri Lanka is impressive regarding the precautions taken as of now.