Mullaiththeevu faces fuel crisis

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 09 April 2008, 00:25 GMT]
“The quantity of fuel supplied by the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) for medical and health related services in Mullaiththeevu district has been drastically reduced creating great difficulties in implementing the various health services in this district," Dr.T.Varatharajah, Director of Health services of Mullaiththeevu region said.

Dr.Varatharajah speaking to TamilNet said:

“During the time of peace, the health services in Mullaiththeevu in Mullaiththeevu received adequate supply of fuel for various. However, due to rapidly unfolding situation in the region the GOSL began imposing severe restrictions in allowing us to bring in fuel.

“We require a minimum of 14,000 litres of diesel per month to be able to provide the required level of health services. We managed to operate the Government Hospital in the district and the two regional hospitals with this limited quantity of fuel.

"In addition, we were maintaining six central dispensaries. However, at present we receive only 2750 litres of fuel from the GOSL through Mullaiththeevu Government Secretariat and this is not enough to meet even the very basic needs of our district.

“We have to transport patients needing emergency care, operate electrical generators and also attend to other emergency health services with this quantity.

“In Ki'linochchi district five free Siddha Ayurvedic hospitals are functioning. The number of patients seeking treatment in these hospitals has been increasing within the past few months and this sudden surge is due the prevailing shortage of drugs in the government hospitals in the district," Dr Varatharajah said.

Dr.Varathrajah also provided details of the patients seekimg treatment in these hospitals in February and March.

The break down of the 1840 patients in Ki'linochchi district who sought treatment in February follows:

• Uruththirapuram -343
• Murasumoaddai -537
• Vaddakkachchi -960
• 990 patients including 586 from Pallavaraayankaddu and 404 patients from Poonahari also received treatment

In March , a total of 2047 patients including 398 patients from; Murasumoaddai 631 patients from Uruththirapuram and 1018 from Vaddakkachchi received treatment

The number of patients seeking treatment from. Pallavaraayankaddu and Poonahari also showed a sharp increase over the number seeking treatment in February, Dr Varatharajah said.