S Asia's first epilepsy treatment hospital in SL

Ridma DISSANAYAKE

The Health Ministry yesterday said arrangements are in place to build the first Epilepsy Treatment Centre in the South Asian region in Sri Lanka and the basic construction of this hospital has already commenced.

The government is to spend Rs.3000 million on this project with financial assistance from the Saudi Arabian government. The hospital is scheduled to be completed by 2014.

The majority of patients seeking outdoor treatment from state hospitals countrywide for neuro diseases suffer from epilepsy.

Around 300,000 persons in Sri Lanka are Epilepsy patients. The most tragic situation is that most are pre-school and schoolchildren. Without being properly treated,their future will be at risk, a Health Ministry Spokesman said.

Epilepsy is a disease which all family members should pay attention to, even if one person in the family is suffering. All Epilepsy patients should receive proper treatment and therefore the Health Ministry has diecided to establish the National Epilepsy Treatment Hospial attached to Colombo National Hospital. The hospital will consist eight storeys. The best treatment for neuro diseases in Sri Lanka can be received at this hospital.

A team of Saudi Arabian representatives were in Sri Lanka to hold several discussions on this project with the Health Ministry team Additional Secretary Dr.Palitha Maheepala and Neurologist Dr.Ranjani Gamage.

"Epilepsy cannot be permanently cured but it can be controlled through proper treatment and those receiving the best treatment can lead a quality life, Dr.Ranjani Gamage said. "There are several myths about epilepsy and all of them are false.This disease can be controlled successfully through the proper treatment, he said. The Saudi Arabian team and government, representatives also visited the Epilepsy Treatment Centre site.