Mobile medical services in rural schools

by Ananda KANNANGARA

Children in rural schools will be provided with high quality medical services under a special Mobile Medical Service programme scheduled to be carried out on the initiative of the Government by the Health Ministry.

According to Health Department statistics a large number of school children in the rural and the remote sector of the country do not get specialised medical attention due to the lack of medical facilities in their hospitals.

Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena told the Junior Observer that school-children who are in their tender ages need specialised treatment for various illnesses.But, many of these children are deprived of such specialised medical attention due to the lack of specialist doctors in hospitals in their villages and home towns.

Minister Sirisena said that steps had already been taken by the Government to provide adequate medicine and medical equipment to all hospitals to give a quality medical service."I do not like to see patients undergoing immense hardships due to lack of medicine and other basic medical facilities," he added.

When the Junior Observer interviewed some people in this regard, a Provincial Councillor in the Uva Province said that it is a hard task for any Government to provide all equipment to every hospital in the country. But, he requested the authorities to conduct highly equipped mobile medical services in rural hospitals at least two days a week to provide the necessary health facilities to needy people.

Requesting the Health Ministry to take necessary steps to conduct these mobile medical services with specialist doctors which will greatly benefit school children, as early as possible, he said that a majority of people in their village are in the habit of coming to Colombo for medical advice due to lack of facilities in the village hospital.

He said the Mobile Medical Service programme in countries such as China and Thailand is rendering an invaluable service to people in the rural sector where there are no permanent hospitals.

February 16:

Prophet Muhammad's birthday

The birthday of Holy Prophet Muhammad falls on February 16. It is a significant day for Muslims throughout the world. While celebrating this solemn occasion we must commit ourselves to follow the teachings of our Holy Prophet in day-to-day life.

The birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad is considered to be a blessing to humanity by His followeres.. The Holy prophet was also known as 'Al Ameen' during the early Mecca period due to his honesty.

As we celebrate the Prophet's birthday we should recall the Prophets' times.

He said, "His period is the best period" because all his companions and followers of His exemplary teachings strictly followed the Holy Quran.

Muslims in Sri Lanka too should follow the teachings of the Prophet and follow the Holy Quran strictly.

Make your fervent prayer on his holy day for peace, harmony, tolerance, understanding and brotherhood.

Text and pic: Ruzaik Farook

[ NEWS IN BRIEF]

by Rohana JAYALAL

Flood warning system

The Department of Irrigation has decided to establish the automatic water gauges along main rivers which are prone to flooding.It would serve as an early warning system when the water levels rose. The Department has decided to install automatic water gauges at selected locations and hope to install about 50 such water gauges. Funds for this project will be provided by the World Bank.

These gauges will record water levels automatically and communicate it to the head office. By this the officials will be updated on the water levels of the river and the amount of rain that is being received in the area.According to the Department if there is a threat of floods, they can accurately communicate this information to the public ,well in advance.

Loan scheme for students

The Government has decided to introduce a new loan scheme through the banking system for students to follow higher studies at universities or other academic institutions according to Ministry of Higher Education sources.

This loan scheme introduced for the first time in Sri Lanka will be to purchase equipment such as laptops.

According to the Ministry sources,even school-leavers (after AL) seeking to follow courses in accounting and marketing at various institutes could obtain loans from the banking sector to be repaid once they were employed.

The students can settle their loans once they find employment.

Their employers should sign a bond in this case to deduct loan instalments from the salaries of their employees and credit them to the relevant bank or the financial institution.

A tsunami memorial museum

The Culture and Aesthetics Affairs Ministry has planned to build a museum in memory of those who lost their lives in the 2004 tsunami, Ministry sources said.

The museum would be constructed on a three acre state property at Peraliya in Hikkaduwa close to a Buddha statue and railway line which were severely damaged by the tsunami.The project is estimated to cost Rs. 400 million and will be funded by the Treasury.The museum will be designed by the Moratuwa University.

The museum is to be built because the tsunami was experienced for the first by the people in Sri Lanka and it has left bitter memories.The museum will showcase pictures and information about people who lost their lives in the tsunami, and other memorabilia. The museum would also have a library.

Five- Year- old swimmer

For the first time in Sri Lanka a five year old girl named Viyama Oshadhi swam 100 metres across the Kelani Ganga in 14 minutes and 41 seconds, to the amazement of a large crowd. Viyama who performed this amazing feat is from Sedawatta, Wellampitiya. She swam across the river starting from the Kelani river bank in Sedawatta under the observation of two instructors of the Sports Medical Institute G.A. Ranil Panditaratne and J.R.J. Udugama.

She is learning swimming under a swimming instructor. She is a student of Carlton Pre-School, Colombo.