Improving medical services in flood-hit areas

by Ananda KANNANGARA

Schoolchildren in 17 districts in the North Central, Eastern and Central provinces who were affected by the recent heavy rains and floods will receive high quality medical treatment under a special programme initiated by the government.It is scheduled to be carried out by the Health Ministry in collaboration with the Education Department and Provincial Education offices, shortly. According to statistics a large number of schoolchildren in Ampara, Batticaloa, Tricomalee, Kandy, Anuradhapura and Polonnnaruwa have been badly affected by the inclement weather.

The Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry is of the view that there is a strong possibility of various diseases, especially infectious diseases spreading in these areas once the rainy season is over.

Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena told the Junior Observer that schoolchildren in the rural and remote sectors in these flood affected districts are deprived of specialised medical attention due to the lack of medical facilities and specialist doctors in hospitals. A specialised medical programme is an urgent need to prevent the spread of diseases, he said. .Minister Sirisena said that steps have already been taken to provide adequate medicine and medical equipment to all hospitals countrywide to provide a quality medical service.

A Local Government official in the North Central Province said the proposed health service programme will benefit a large number of schoolchildren as well as adults in these flood affected areas. The Minister has already requested the relevant authorities to conduct highly equipped mobile medical services in rural hospitals and schools to provide the necessary health facilities to needy people.

World Thinking Day - 2011

Girl Guides and Girl Scouts all over the world, celebrate World Thinking Day on 22 February every year. On this day Guides and Scouts think about the meaning of guiding and scouting as well as the guides and the scouts around the world. Many troops use this day as a day to learn about other countries and their cultures.

World Thinking Day was first initiated at the fourth Girl Guides' International Conference held at the Edith Macy Conference Centre, USA in 1926. All those who attended, decided that there should be a special day when girl guides and scouts think of each other and exchange greetings to thank and appreciate their service as guides and scouts. All the attendees unanimously proposed February 22 as the World Thinking day; since it was the birthday of Lord Baden Powell, founder of the Boy Scout Movement, and also his wife Olave, who served as the World Chief Guide.

The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) choose a theme for every World Thinking Day and proposed related activities. Last year the theme was "Together we can end extreme poverty and hunger." For the year 2011, their theme is "Gender equality and empowering women."

The main objective is to raise awareness of the situation of girls and women around the world and empower them to take a stand against inequality. This is the third of the eight areas of focus made by 189 world leaders at the United Nations Millennium Summit in 2000. It is also a part of the WAGGGS Global Action theme, which encourages girls to make a commitment to change the world around them. This year activities have been divided into five main categories. They are group warm-up activities, developing self-esteem and self-confidence, learning together to change the world, living and working for a fairer world, and girls and young women as decision makers. Apart from this there is also, a special speak out category to help girls learn how to advocate on issues that concern them.

The celebration of World Thinking Day in Sri Lanka is going to be a little different from the world celebrations. "We are trying to incorporate non-Guides to our World Thinking Day celebrations this time. Then we can show them what actually the Girl Guides do," says the Director Communications, Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association, Dilmini Peiris. The strength of the Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association is around 30 000. All these Guides will engage in activities such as organizing health camps and giving alms for elderly homes to celebrate the Thinking Day. However, to keep up with the Association's objective every guide will bring one of her cousins or a friend, a non-guide, to show the activities of the Girl Guides movement, she added.

-Janani Amarasekere

NEWS IN BRIEF

by Rohana JAYALAL

Solar farm

The Japanese and Korean Government will provide financial assistance to establish a solar farm in Barathenna in Hambantota to generate low cost power.

The project will be carried out in two stages with the first stage financed by the Japanese Government while the Korean Government would finance the second stage, according to official sources.

Japan has already provided Rs.1, 024 million for the first stage under which 737 KV of power will be added to the national grid upon its completion. Work relating to the construction of the first stage is expected to be completed by August next year.

Effects of sea erosion

Surveyor General of Sri Lanka Mahesh Fernando says that a study will be carried out to ascertain whether sea erosion has caused a severe change in the map of the island.

The Survey Department intends to use aerial photographs, maps and other documents obtained since the inception of the Survey Department for this purpose.

The report of the investigation is to be released before the end of the year, the Surveyor General says. The investigation is being carried out due to repeated queries from various parties regarding the effects of sea erosion on the shape of the coastal belt.

Health Museum

The Ministry of Health has decided to set up a health museum in the age-old leprosy hospital in Hendala in the Gampaha district, Ministry source said. The hospital built during the Dutch period is 304 years old now and it was in use until the disease was brought under control as a result of the efficient health system in the country.

The Ministry said the country achieved the leprosy elimination target in 1995 but that does not mean the disease is completely eliminated yet. Sri Lanka hopes to be completely free of leprosy by 2025.

The hospital which was opened in 1708 has a Dutch style church, buildings, equipment including a very old washing machine that can still be used, and medical accessories. The Ministry has decided to conserve these historical artifacts. The Ministry expects to open the museum on World Leprosy Day next year.

Hot water spring

The hot water spring has surfaced in the Serudandawala area at the end of the four kilometre tunnel that takes water from the Bowatenna reservoir to the Kalawewa.

The geologists said that they witnessed a four- feet high fountain at the location. A large number of people visit the location daily for bathing. Geologist C.K. Moremada said that investigations have been launched on the occurrence.