Medical teams, drugs to Vavuniya

L. S. Ananda WEDAARACHCHI

Specialist medical teams with equipment, essential drugs and ambulances were sent to Vavuniya to meet the medical needs of more than one hundred and fifty thousand (150,000) IDPs who fled the LTTE grip to government controlled areas.

Under the instructions of Health Care and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, Secretary to the Ministry Dr. Atula Kahadaliyanage visited Vavuniya and Mannar Hospitals on Wednesday (22) and discussed the urgent needs with the regional Health Ministry officials and the doctors.

A Disaster Management Unit which operates day and night had been established in the Health Ministry premises.

A spokesman of DMU said that the number of injured persons seeking treatment had rapidly escalated during the last few days. "We had anticipated that situation and planned the medical programme accordingly and if worked smoothly, he said.

Pulmude Field Hospital, Padaviya, Vavuniya and Mannar hospitals were being strengthened with doctors, drugs and equipment, Polonnaruwa and Higurakgoda hospitals will also be ready to admit serious patients soon, he said. Medical teams, consisting specialists, surgons and technicians with nursing staff were being sent daily to Vavuniya to continue the medical services, he added.