Landslide victims get water purification system

In response to the request made by the Government of Sri Lanka to all foreign emergency response institutions, the ‘Bjoern Steiger Foundation’ recently donated a high tech water purification system machine with a capacity of purifying 5,000 litres of water per hour, to the victims of the Aranayaka landslide that left many homeless and with little or no access to clean drinking water.

The system was well accepted by the Ministry of Disaster Management and the Ministry of Health on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka and was immediately dispatched to Aranayaka with the help of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board along with the expertise of a team of highly qualified German paramedics, doctors, engineers and other personnel which will be based at the camp for three months in order to ensure smooth operation of the system. The system is a highly mobile water purification unit with very low energy consumption and is known as one of the best brands amongst German technology.

Its Ultrafiltration system, which is more suited to Sri Lankan conditions, is tested on a daily basis in order be in line with the standards of the World Health Organization. The quality of the water is tested with regards to biological and chemical components and upon delivering, is tested on its chlorine content.

“Our greatest joy comes from the knowledge that our systems are protecting the health of people and their families. It is our belief that clean drinking water is a key component to health and that everyone should have access to it as many people and countries cannot afford quality water filtration systems. We want to help change that,” said Saman Nawinna- CEO of the Bjoern Steiger Foundation in Sri Lanka.

Present at the event was the Deputy Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany in Sri Lanka- Michael Dohmen, and representatives of the Ministries of Disaster Management and Health along with representatives from the Bjoern Steiger Foundation.

The Bjoern Steiger Foundation have also submitted a proposal to the Sri Lankan Government, to build an island-wide emergency rescue system with German quality ambulances, helicopters, other special rescue vehicles and also a communication system with the international emergency call number 112 to coordinate the whole system.

The proposal guarantees to reach a patient and undertake primary care within 20 minutes after dialing the emergency number. The German team also positively expects international funds to pre-finance this project as all the money spent on running the system will remain in Sri Lanka.

Any financial excess will be directed to invest in government hospitals towards their modernization. The service will be equal to all the citizens of Sri Lanka independent of social or economic status.

The measures proposed by the German team included the following; creating 29,000 new jobs opportunities for Sri Lankans in the rescue system with professional German guidance, island- wide training stations, 3 modern emergency island-wide call centers, 555 rescue stations with 1,050 ambulances fully equipped with pre-medical care units of modern German technology, 260 special physician-escorted emergency cars, and 260 special technical vehicles to rescue people from difficult geographical situations as well as heavy accidents along with 20 helicopter bases with 24 fully equipped rescue helicopters. Around 35 German experts will be appointed to control the quality of the system for ten years while all examinations for trainees will be certified according to current German standards.