Quick Look

Cancer, asthma hospital for Batticaloa

M.S.M. Haniffa

A hospital to treat cancer and Asthma patients will be set up by the Eastern Provincial Council in the Batticaloa district at a cost of Rs. 250 million. Eastern Provincial Councils Health Minister M.L.A.M. Hisbullah disclosed this at a regional health conference held at the Oluvil Mahapola centre on Monday July 13.

The Minister said the World Bank has come forward in a big way to assist in developing the health facilities and services in the Eastern Province.

Nightingales for Northern Hospitals

Nadira Gunatilleke

The Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry will hand over appointment letters to 303 new nurses today.

Two hundred and thirty four will be posted to serve in welfare villages in all five zones and other state hospitals in the Northern Province, a Ministry spokesman said.

He said 66 nurses will be posted to welfare villages and another 50 nurses to Mannar hospital. The number of nurses to be posted to Vavuniya hospital is 30. Cheddikulam hospital will get 24 new nurses and Kilinochchi hospital will get 20 nurses.

The number of nurses to be posted to Point Pedro is 15. Trincomalee hospital will get 10 nurses. Jaffna hospital will get seven nurses. Kalawanchikudi and Velvetithurei hospitals will get five nurses each and Thilappale hospital will get two nurses.

Angoda Mental Hospital will get 20 nurses and IDH four.

The Ministry has also made arrangements to post 25 new nurses to the Maharagama Cancer Hospital to carry out Chemotherapy without interruption.

The Ministry will buy four new chemotherapy machines and send several new nurses abroad for training.

Some nurses have withdrawn from carrying out chemotherapy forwarding demands. Earlier, they carried out chemotherapy for over 500 patients a day but at the moment they only handle less than 200 patients.

Cancer patients’ lives depend on chemotherapy. Therefore, the new nurses will commence chemotherapy from today, Ministry sources said.

Hospital with no protective fence

The patients and the staff of the Gokarella District Hospital complain that their lives are at risk as there is no protective fence around the hospital premises.

There had been several instances where drunkards and thugs entered the hospital premises and threatened the hospital staff.

Undergrad contracted dengue from Akurana shramadana

The recent death of a university student from dengue has no connection with the Peradeniya University because the student had contracted the disease participating in a shramadana campaign to destroy mosquito breeding places in Akurana which is a highly affected area, said Peradeniya University Medical Officer Dr. S. M. Wattegama.

Dr. Wattegama said no sooner they heard that Kandy was highly affected with dengue fever, the Peradeniya University Health Unit mobilised all its resources to bring the situation under control.

Mysterious disease kills meer cat calves

Suranjith Perera

Two calves born to a meer cat at the Dehiwala Zoological Gardens on Friday (July 10) died of a mysterious disease on Monday (July 13).

The pair of elder meer cats were gifted to the Dehiwala Zoo two years ago by a Zoo in Singapore. Two other calves born at the Dehiwala Zoo also died recently.

Seminar and panel discussion

A seminar and panel discussion on ‘Melamine Phobia’ will be held on July 17 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the SLAAS auditorium organised by the Section B of the SLAAS.

Raja Yoga meditation

The Raja Yoga meditation introductory lessons will be held from July 15 to 17 at the Sarawanas Building, 34/1-3, Main Road, Kandapola from 9.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m.

All the programs of Brahma Kumaris Raja Yoga Centres will be free. Details can be obtained from 011-2717572.

Bus for Harischandra College

The Senior Past Pupils’ Association of Harischandra College, Negombo will donate a bus for the use of pupils on July 17 at 8 a.m. at college premises.

National Ballet Festival

The ‘National Ballet Festival 2009’ awards ceremony will be held at the John de Silva Memorial Hall today at 3 p.m. Cultural Affairs and National Heritage Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene will be the chief guest.

Felicitation

The Old Boys’ Association of Kalutara Vidyalaya has organised a felicitation ceremony for all the teachers who retired from service. The felicitation ceremony will be held in September in the college premises. The teachers who have been retired from service requested to contact the following telephone numbers (071-445791 or 0777-4828337.

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‘Janapathi Virusara Pranama’ a celebration organised by Janadhipathi Vidyalaya, Kotte, will be held on 16th of July at the college auditorium, with the participation of Education Minister, Susil Premjayanth.

This celebration, a tribute to the valiant old boys of Janadhipathi Vidyalaya who participated in the humanitarian operation, will be attended also by the Ranaviru family members.

AGM

The General Dental Practitioners’ Association will hold its Annual General Meeting on July 19, 2009 at the SLDA Auditorium. Preceding the AGM, a Clinical Meeting will be held from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. with Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Dr. Sarath Wijemanne on “Role of Dental Surgeon in Antinatal Care” and Professor of Periodontology University of Peradeniya Dr. Sunethra Rajapakse on “Clinical Periodontology”.

Krishnamurti talk

A recorded public talk on “The function of the brain” delivered by the late Indian sage J. Krishnamurti will be replayed at the Public Library auditorium, Colombo 7 on July 19, Sunday at 10.30 a.m.

Buddhist discussion

The next Buddhist public Panel Discussion of the Colombo YMBA will be on July 19, Sunday at 10 a.m. at its Borella building on “Meditation on Feelings”. The Panelists are Bhikkhuni Kusuma and Prof. Raja de Alwis with Rajah Kuruppu as Moderator.