US medical team functions in Point Pedro hospital

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 January 2005, 16:24 GMT]
Twenty - member US medical team commenced its services at Point Pedro government base hospital in Jaffna district Monday. Dr. Ton Davis, Head of the US medical team addressing a press briefing Tuesday said his team would be in Jaffna for two weeks, sources said.

He added that the Government of Sri Lanka and the USA Embassy in Colombo would decide on the question of extending the period of stay in Jaffna.

He expressed his grief and sympathy over the loss of lives and properties that took place in Jaffna district in the December Tsunami, sources said.

He said his medical team would provide treatment for fracture and other ailments. Surgery would also be undertaken. A consignment of urgently needed medical equipments has been handed over to the Point Pedro Hospital, he said.

At present US medical team has been allowed to conduct medical camp from the Point Pedro base hospital although the team is interested to visit welfare centres where Tsunami victims are sheltered, he said in reply to a question by a journalist.

The possibility of providing medical services to the people of LTTE controlled area is solely depending on the decision of the Sri Lankan US embassy, he said.