NPC assigned to provide health facilities for IDPs

Dharma Sri Abeyratne

The Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry has assigned the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) to provide Internally Displaced Persons in Welfare Villages in Vavuniya with health facilities, Ministry sources said.

The Northern Provincial Council will take the responsibility from February 1 to provide health facilities which have so far been carried out by the Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry.

When the humanitarian mission came to the last stage, around 360,000 IDPs were reported in Welfare Villages. The Government appointed the Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry by Cabinet approval to provide health services. Cabinet approval was granted only for six months.

The Health and Nutrition Services Ministry has deployed a considerable number of medical staff including 410 doctors, vehicles including 25 ambulances and much resources such as medical equipment and drugs. The Ministry has spent Rs one million daily on this health service.

"The six month period is now over and health services will be carried out by the Northern Provincial Council from the beginning of next month. As a result of the Government's resettlement program, the number of IDPs has reduced to 90,000 from 360,000.

The Ministry has planned to deploy only 45 doctors out of 110 doctors who are serving in Vavuniya," the sources said. Medical equipment, drugs, vehicles and ambulances will also be handed over to the Northern Provincial Council to use for the betterment of the remaining IDPs in Vavuniya.

On the advice of the Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, the remaining doctors will be employed in Government hospitals throughout the country. After discussing with the GMOA, the Ministry will come to a conclusion regarding the appointing hospitals, the sources added.