Thileepan memorial hospital's service commended

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 August 2003, 02:38 GMT]
In a press release, an organization that represents the people of Neduntheevu, one of the islets off Jaffna, has commended the service rendered by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam through the Thileepan memorial hospital they opened in 2002 and completed its first year of service on August 4, Monday.

The following is the full text of the press release by the Neduntheevu People’s Movement:

“When the LTTE political cadres set foot in the islet on June 18, 2002 following the Ceasefire agreement between the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE, thousands of people in Neduntheevu welcomed them. The cadres listened to the complaints of the people and set out to solve their problems.

“The district hospital in the islands should have one medical officer and one assistant medical office. But only a retired medical officer is working at the hospital under an agreement. The hospital lacks the basic medical equipment and medicine to serve the people.

“The LTTE cadres recognized the people’s problems and opened a hospital on August 4, 2002 in memory of Thileepan (an LTTE martyr who fasted unto death during the time Indian Peace Keeping Forces were in Jaffna).

“The Thileepan hospital has provided tireless service round the clock, and in its first year of service, has provided service to 12,627 patients, provided vision tests and distributed free eyeglasses and dental treatment to more than 50 people.

“Mr. Poovendan and other members of the LTTE’s medical corps, and other employees of the hospital, who continue to provide day and night service, should be duly recognized by the LTTE leadership for their service.”