Ceylinco Life donates Dengue treatment facility to LRH

A sophisticated High Dependency & Research Unit exclusively for the treatment of children afflicted by Dengue, constructed, furnished and equipped at a cost of Rs 10.5 million has been donated to the Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital (LRH) by Ceylinco Life and a group of well-wishers.

The five-bed unit is located at Ward 1, the Professorial Ward managed by the Colombo Medical Faculty with a multi-disciplinary panel of specialist consultants and meets a critical need at the country’s premier hospital for children.

The donation of this unit is one of several activities connected with Ceylinco Life’s 25th anniversary, celebrated on 14th January, 2013.

Serving as a specialised ICU for the management of serious cases of dengue haemorrhagic fever, the new unit is also equipped to be a teaching unit for outstation hospitals via video conference facilities.

“Being the lead funder and providing leadership for this project has given us a great deal of satisfaction, particularly, because it will tangibly help in the battle against Dengue,” Ceylinco Life’s Managing Director and CEO, R. Renganathan said. “If this unit helps save even one life, it will be worth it, but we know it will save many, many lives. We believe that corporate entities can play a bigger role in improving the quality of healthcare in our country.”

The other contributors to the project were Swiss Re of Switzerland, Munich Re of Germany, Mr and Mrs Hemaka Amarasuriya along with Dileeka and Thushan Amarasuriya (in memory of their son and brother Damith Shamindra Amarasuriya), Mr. And Mrs. Arthur Senanayake along with Annika and Alexandria Senanayake (in memory of their son and brother Alastair Yasvanth Senanayake). Ms. Yoko Nonobe and Ceylon Oxygen Ltd.

The new High Dependency Unit of 710 square feet is located behind the main reception counter of Ward 1 of the hospital. It has five ICU type beds with bed head panels, oxygen outlets, multiparameter monitors, bed side cupboards, over bed tables, bystander reclining chairs, medical equipment stands and nurses stools.

The fully air-conditioned unit is also equipped with seven Infusion Pumps, seven Syringe Pumps, video conference equipment (five Laptops, webcams, speakers, microphones and computer stands), three portable Suction Apparatus units, five Oxygen Flow Meters and an air purifier unit.

The unit is also equipped with a semi-automated bio chemistry analyser. This project represents the second commitment by Ceylinco Life to the Lady Ridgeway Hospital in 2012. Earlier in the year, the company donated 25 foldable beds, renovated the lighting and electrical system, installed fans and repaired defective sections of the concrete soffit of Ward 1 of the hospital.