Special education programe for LRH child patients

Nadira Gunatilleke

Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena and Education Minister Bandula Gunawardene launched a special programme yesterday to provide a school education to child patients receiving long term treatment at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital (LRH), Colombo.

Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena and Education Minister Bandula Gunawardene chat with child patients receiving treatment at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital, Colombo after launching the school education programme at the hospital, while officials look on.

The programme will enable child patients to continue their education while receiving treatment without any interruption. This will also prevent school drop outs due to illnesses.

Five diploma holder teachers from Education Colleges have been appointed to the Lady Ridgeway Hospital to provide school education

for the child patients receiving long term treatment at the hospital. Approval has been granted for a Cabinet Paper presented to the Cabinet in order to launch the project.

Minister Sirisena said President Mahinda Rajapaksa has commended the programme. The health and education sectors are humanitarian services which need love, kindness, patience and dedication. The Minister thanked the teachers who came forward to serve in the hospital.

Minister Gunawardene said sometimes, school children drop out from school due to various illnesses and reasons. This programme prevents that situation and allows sick children to continue their school education while obtaining medical treatment.

“Due to understanding that Minister Sirisena and I have about human beings and village life, the programme was launched,” Minister Gunawardene said.