BTH gets Neuro Trauma Unit

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

The President of National Trauma Service Foundation of Sri Lanka shakes hands with Health Ministry Secretary Dr. Ravindra Ruberu after the discussion while Ministry Additional Secretary Sarath Chandrasiri Vithana, Vice President of the Foundation Nihal D Run, Vice President of the Management Division of the Foundation Nihal Petikirikorala and Deputy Managing Director Indrajith Fernando look on.

A new emergency and Neuro Trauma Unit is to be built at Batticaloa Teaching Hospital at a cost of US $ One Billion. This is the third such unit to be built in Sri Lanka. The first two units were opened at Kurunegala and Karapitiya Teaching Hospitals some time back, a Health Ministry spokesman said.

According to the spokesman, the project is to be funded by a charity organization based in Victoria, Australia named National Trauma Service Foundation of Sri Lanka. Three more similar units are to be opened at three state hospitals.

At the moment a large number of patients benefit from the service at the Batticaloa Teaching Hospital. Monthly the hospital performs around 614 minor surgeries, 216 major surgeries and 438 deliveries. The hospital treats around 17,650 in-house patients every month. The new unit will improve the service of this hospital, he said.