EUR 60m program for Vavuniya hospital

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) with the Regional Health Services Directorate launched construction work on a sewerage and waste water treatment plant for the Vavuniya General Hospital, to address one of the biggest risks to environmental and health conditions in the Vavuniya township,

The activities are being implemented with financial assistance provided through the European Union Support to District Development Program (EU-SDDP), with a financial envelope of EUR 60 million. The program aims at supporting the Government's thrust for economic and social development in seven conflict-affected districts covering half a million people.

The Vavuniya General Hospital is the second largest hospital in the Northern Province, serving a population of around 400,000 in the districts of Vavuniya, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, Mannar and a part of Anuradhapura. The hospital's current bed strength is 700 and an estimated 5,000 people seek outpatient assistance at the hospital daily. It is hoped to increase the bed-strength to 1,000 with ongoing development work to improve medical services.

Head of Development Cooperation for European Union in Sri Lanka, Ms. Libuse Soukupova said, "Hospitals are not only significant consumers of water but also generate large amounts of waste water. Ensuring efficient waste water treatment and disposal is equally important for public health as drinking water treatment and garbage collection.

This project reflects the EU's commitment to protect the environment and promote healthy living. We hope that the people of Vavuniya, will benefit from this initiative." The hospital's current sewage disposal system consists of several overloaded septic tanks and clogged soak pits.