Karapitiya Hospital benefited:

Hanover, Germany provides ICU

Nadira Gunatilleke

Hanover Municipal Council, Germany will provide a fully fledged Intensive Care Unit (ICU) to Karapitiya Teaching Hospital at a cost of Rs 150 million, Health Ministry spokesman said.

According to the spokesman, Hikkaduwa Lions Club co-ordinates and assists this project. In addition to funding the ICU, the doctors and nurses attached to the ICU are to be trained in Germany.

There are only eight beds in the ICU at present. Recently a German delegation visited Sri Lanka and held discussions with Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena in connection with establishing the ICU at Karapitiya Teaching Hospital. The discussion was held at the National Blood Centre, Colombo 5.

Prof Wolf Dieter Gogole, Barbara Gogole and Harmuth Schulz were among the delegates, the Ministry spokesman said. The members of the German delegation commended Sri Lanka’s free health service, the cleanliness of State hospitals and the dedication of health staffs in the State sector. The members stated that Sri Lanka’s health service is a good example for the rest of the developing countries.