Medicines to LTTE areas in Mannar reach through Uyilankulam

[TamilNet, Friday, 29 September 2006, 12:24 GMT]
A consignment of drugs and other medical items allocated for the third quarter of the year to government dispensaries and hospitals in the villages held by Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the Mannar district was dispatched Friday around noon in two lorries through Uyilankulam checkpoint of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), sources said.

The consignment is to be distributed to Adamban district hospital, Vidathaltivu rural hospital, and central dispensaries located in Vellankulam and Madhu, sources said.

This was the first consignment of drugs sent to LTTE held territory in Mannar district since the closure of Uyilankulam checkpoint by the SLA following fresh fighting between the Sri Lankan government troops and LTTE broke out on August 11, sources said.

The Defence Ministry allowed the transport following a request by the Mannar Government Agent Mr.V.Visuvalingam through Mannar military high command at the instance of the Provincial Deputy Director of Health Services in Mannar Dr. (Ms) S.R.Jude, sources said.

The consignment included seventy nine categories of drugs urgently needed for treatment of tuberculosis, hepatitis, chickenpox and vaccines children.6240 packets of Triposha, child nutrient food were also sent, sources said.

As SLA personnel failed to arrive at the Provincial Drugs Store located in Mannar town in time to check all parcels of drugs and other items, health department officials took the two lorries with the consignment direct to Uyilankulam check point where the SLA personnel gave clearance after thorough check, sources said.

All hospitals and dispensaries in the LTTE held villages in the district did not function since August 11 as these institutions had not received required drugs and other related medical items in time, sources said.