JAICA funding for Warakapola hospital
Priyanka KURUGALA
Measures have been taken to develop the Warakapola Base hospital from
the funds of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), a spokesman
for the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council said.
JAICA will provide Rs 708 million for this. According to Hospital
Director Dr Upul Wijenayake, the funds will be provided in the form of a
concessionary loan.
Around 15,000 patients were provided with medical treatment while
around 168,000 patients visited the Out Patients' Department of the
Warakapola Base hospital last year. The Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council
has invested around Rs 12 million in the recent past to develop the
maternity division, blood bank, x-ray facilities and operation theatre
attached to the maternity division.
Two specialists and 26 doctors with 49 nursers are on duty at the
hospital.
Since a large number of road accidents are reported on the Colombo-Kandy
road close to the Warakapola Base hospital, its importance cannot be
underestimated. Around 2,000 patients out of 6,800 admitted to the
Warakapola hospital accident ward last year were victims of road
accidents.
Following a request by former Sabaragamuwa Chief Minister Mahipala
Herath, the Warakapola Base Hospital too was included in the JICA
programme. The hospital will be developed in four stages. Four wards
each with 48 beds, three operation theaters, an out patients'
department,emergency treatment unit, sewerage system, solid garbage
management system and officers quarters for 12 specialists, 20 doctors,
50 nurses and 50 workers will be constructed under the Warakapola Base
Hosipital redevelopment programe. |