Significant developments in the N-E health sector

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

After the completion of the humanitarian operation, the Health Ministry carried out a significant development drive in the North and Eastern Provinces to offer the best health care service for the people living in the two provinces. Under this development drive the ministry developed both human and physical resources in the health sector.

The ministry recruited new dentists in March this year and posted 14 of them to the state hospitals located in the Eastern Province. Another five dentists were posted to the Northern Province. Around 2500 student nurses were recruited and 330 of them were from Northern Province who did their Advanced Level Examination in Commerce and Arts streams. Health Ministry made it compulsory for all nurses attached to state hospitals to serve in the Northern Province. Accordingly, all nurses who had been served in other parts of the country for a period over five years to be transferred to state hospitals in the Northern Province. Nurses who had served the most number of years in the other parts of the country are given priority when giving nursing appointments to the Northern Province to serve there for a certain time period.

The ministry took a decision to recruit nursing students from arts and commerce streams temporary (only from the Northern Province) considering the high demand that exists in the Province for nurses and the fact that no education facilities were available for them for 30 years to study science because of the LTTE terrorism and war prevailed in the Province. But one trade union opposed this temporary decision. Health authorities deployed 30 teams consisting 450 personnel to inspect dengue mosquito breeding places and raise awareness in the public. Around three police officers deployed with each team. A total of 100 police officers deployed. Health authorities released local fish named 'Duppi' to wells at Eravur to destroy dengue mosquito larvae. The main objective of the programme was preventing dengue becoming an epidemic at Eravur.

Health Ministry has accelerated the development activities of the Jaffna Teaching Hospital launched at a cost of Rs.3000 million. Japan International Corporation Agency (JAICA) funds this project. A new OPD, surgical wards, theatres, rest rooms for health staffs, accident ward, laboratory services unit and many other modern treatment units to be constructed in the new building complex. People from Jaffna, Kilinochchi and Mulaitivu districts will receive benefits from Jaffna Teaching Hospital.

The project launched under 'Uthuru Wasanthaya'. Recently Low Vision Unit of the hospital was opened for the public. The unit will carry out cataract surgeries, transplanting eye lenses and treatment for other eye problems such as low vision etc. Mulaitivu General Hospital which was destroyed by the LTTE terrorists in the last stages of humanitarian operation is now being upgraded at a cost of Rs. 118 million.

The development project is funded by Americares International, a reputed NGO which always assists local health sector. The hospital was destroyed by the LTTE terrorists during the last stages of the humanitarian operation and all valuable medical equipment and other resources were removed from the hospital and were destroyed. The Ministry renovated several state hospitals after the LTTE destroyed them and the LTTE destroyed them for second and third times after renovations. Americares International is funding the project following a request made by Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena. Mullaitivu base hospital upgraded with several building complexes under this project.

A new surgical complex consists medical wards, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), wards, theatres etc. A doctors' quarters complex and three stored Consultants' quarters complex will also build under the same project. Americares International developed Trincomalee Hospital at a cost of Rs. 100 million. The organization undertook the development project of Mulaitivu General Hospital responding to a request made by Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena. Americares International provided medical equipment, furniture, air conditioners and many other resources for Mulaitivu hospital. The hospital development project to be complete by next year (2013). Health Ministry received Rs. two billion from the Global Fund to develop health facilities in the Northern Province as a response to a request made by Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena.

A massive development drive implemented under a five year plan (2012 - 2016) to upgrade the health facilities in the Northern Province. Health facilities of all five districts in the North Jaffna, Kilinochci, Mulaitivu, Mannar and Vavuniya to be developed under the five year development plan. Curative care and infrastructure facilities to be upgraded. New OPDs to be build for 20 state hospitals in the North while ten new MOH offices to be build. Around 40 new medical laboratories to be built in the Northern Province under the same development plan. Two regional Training Centres to be build in the province.

Vehicles to be provide for them using the same funds. Malaria and TB control units will also be set up in the province. A new office for Kilinochchi Regional Health Services Director constructed and opened at a cost of Rs. 10 million. Americares International provided another Rs 10 million to develop Kilinochchi hospital. Eye site of 350 residents in the Kilinochci was restored by replacing their eye lenses through cataract surgeries. A new emergency and Neuro Trauma Unit built at Baticaloa Teaching Hospital at a cost of one Billion US dollars. This is the third such unit to be built in Sri Lanka.

The project was funded by a charity organization based in Victoria, Australia named National Trauma Service Foundation of Sri Lanka. At the moment a large number of patients receive the service of Baticaloa Teaching Hospital. Monthly the hospital perform around 614 minor surgeries, 216 major surgeries and 438 deliveries. The hospital treats around 17,650 in-patients every month.

The United States Government, through coordination with the Government of Sri Lanka through the Health Ministry, funded the renovation and reconstruction of four hospitals located in the Northern province.

The U.S. Government remains committed to supporting Government of Sri Lanka efforts towards reconstruction and reconciliation in former conflict zones. The renovation of these Hospitals will provide essential medical services to conflict affected areas in Kilinochchi and Mullativu.

At a value of over USD 1.6 million, the hospitals to be renovated are Divisional Hospital Pallai, Divisional Hospital Poonakary, Base Hospital Mulankavil, and Divisional Hospital Oddusuddan.

These four hospitals are the first phase in a plan to assist the Ministry of Health - Northern Province in upgrading its health care facilities. The second phase will consist of the renovation and reconstruction of an additional five hospitals valued at over USD 1.9 million. Health Ministry is now in the process of upgrading all state hospitals in the North and East.

The state hospitals located in these two Provinces had been completely destroyed by the LTTE during past 30 years. The LTTE had destroyed some state hospitals many times after minitry renovating them with foreign aid. People living in the North and East now receive free and quality health care services due to accelerated development projects carried out by the Government to develop the health sector in the two provinces.