More accident wards to be set up

by Ananda Kannangara

The Health Ministry which focused attention on 80,000 road and other sudden accidents reported from all parts of the country every year has decided to set up fully equipped accident wards countrywide in addition to the main accident ward at the Colombo National Hospital.

The objective of setting up these wards which come under the purview of the Colombo National Hospital is to provide prompt professional health care treatment for victims in their areas rather than transporting them to the main accident ward in Colombo even by ambulances which take time, especially during peak hours.

Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena told the Sunday Observer that setting up new accident wards in selected districts in the country will ease congestion in the Colombo Accident Ward and will also benefit the victim's kith and kin.

Accordingly, the Health Ministry will set up these accident wards in the Kandy, Galle, Matara, Kegalle, Ratnapura, Badulla and the Kurunegala districts.

The accident ward in Jaffna will also be provided with sophisticated medical equipment to provide an excellent service to victims.

Minister Sirisena had told a function at the Matara hospital recently that accident wards will be set up countrywide. He was speaking after opening a new accident ward built at a cost of Rs. 10 million.