State-of-the art scanner at SJGH

by Ananda KANNANGARA

Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva on Thursday commissioned a new 16 Slice Spiral C.T. Scanner at the Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital (SJGH) and said the Government's prime objective is to improve the countrywide health sector to the maximum.

He was speaking at a ceremony to mark the 24th anniversary of the Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital. An alms-giving to 18 Buddhist monks was also conducted to coincide with the celebrations. Ven. Muruttettuwe Ananda Thera and Ven. Welamitiyawe Kusaladhamma Thera conducted special anusasana.

According to hospital sources, the C.T. Scanner was purchased under a soft loan granted by the Government of Austria.

The Minister thanked the staff of the Sri Jayawardenepura Hospital for taking steps to install the C.T. Scanner at a short notice with the intervention of the Health Department.

"I have come to know that the inmates of Sri Jayawardenepura Hospital and outdoor patients faced immense hardships to obtain C.T. reports in the past," he said.

He said the Jayawardenepura hospital has adequate medical equipment and staff and a large number of war heroes seek treatment in the hospital.

The Minister also requested the hospital authorities to make the best use of the Scanner and directed the officials to do at least twenty scans a day.

"I hope authorities will have a special low cost scheme for the benefit of poor patients to obtain C.T.S reports", he said.

The Minister also opened the Elders- Care Unit Suwa Sahanaya and a new car park.