Jaffna Teaching Hospital renovated with Japanese grant

The Jaffna Teaching Hospital (JTH) has been renovated and it's central functions improved through an outright grant amounting to Japanese Yen 2,298 million (Rs 1,793 million at the time of grant agreement, March, 2010) donated by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The new building and facilities will be ceremonially inaugurated by President Mahinda Rajapaksa today, February 13. JICA, the executing agency of Japan's Bilateral Official Development Assistance (ODA) is the world's biggest bilateral aid agency and works in over 150 countries and regions.

In keeping with its vision of "Inclusive and Dynamic Development," JICA supports resolution of development issues in developing countries.

In Sri Lanka, Japan has been providing financial and technical assistance since 1954 and is one of the country's largest donors. JICA's grant for the upgrading of the Jaffna Teaching hospital demonstrates Japan's commitment to "Promising hope to the people in the North of Sri Lanka".

The Jaffna Teaching Hospital is the only tertiary care institution in the Northern area. The hospital has been overcrowded due to damage of the lower-level medical facilities during the war.

The Project provides facilities to cover the central functions of the Hospital. A new Operation Theater Complex, Central Supply & Sterilizing Department (CSSD), Intensive Care Units (ICUs), Central Laboratory Complex, and Central Facilities for Diagnostic Imaging, procure and installation of necessary medical equipment are included in the new five story building

The facilities will ensure the provision of tertiary care services, access to reliable medical services and overall restoration of healthcare facilities for the people of the North. Japan hopes that the new facilities, which are a gift from the people of Japan will serve as an additional token of friendship and cooperation between Japan and Sri Lanka and that the project will contribute towards enhancing the health and welfare of people in the North and surrounding areas.

In addition to the project to improve health care in the North, JICA has been supported many other projects for the development of the Northern area, like Digital Topographic Mapping Project aiming at updating the topographical database and maps for the entire Northern Province through digital aerial photography, and projects designed to formulate road maps to promote post-conflict rehabilitation in Jaffna and to recover economic activities in the Mannar districts.