Swiss organization donates vehicles to Pattipallai health office

[TamilNet, Saturday, 08 February 2003, 13:19 GMT]
International voluntary organization, Terre des homme (Tdh) which has its head quarters in Switzerland, Friday, donated a pickup truck and three motorbikes to the Pattipalai Health office in the Liberation Tigers (LTTE) controlled region 15 km southwest of Batticaloa town in eastern province, sources in Batticaloa said.

Tdh representative Ms. Miranda Armstrong

Ms. Miranda Armstrong, Batticaloa Residential Representative of Terre des hommes handed the keys of the vehicles to Pattipalai district Medical Office, Dr. S. Krishnakumar Friday morning at the Offices of the organization, sources confirmed.

Lack of transportation to help health official in the poor areas of Pattipalai to support children's health care, breast-feeding and pregnant mothers, prompted Terre des homme to organize the vehicle donations, Ms Armstrong said.

"Our organization, which performs voluntary services in 30 different countries, has been operating in the Batticaloa-Ampara districts for more than nine years promoting health care for children and mothers. In Batticaloa district alone we have established 25 child care homes and 31 athletic training centers to promote children's welfare.

"In Paduvankarai region, where there is a dearth of vehicles for healthcare officials, we have trained several midwives and have provided them with necessary medical supplies. This has facilitated pregnant mothers who go into labor during nights to have childbirth in their own homes without the urgent need to go to a hospital," Ms. Armstrong added.

"Our mission is to look after health of needy children and to ensure access to proper nutrition for Mothers and children during critical period of children's growth," Ms. Armstrong concluded.


Dr. S. Maheswaran accepting the keys to the Pickup truck from Ms. Armstrong


The Terre des hommes Foundation (Tdh) with headquarters in Lausanne is the largest Swiss children’s aid organisation operating outside Switzerland. For 40 years, the movement has been active wherever children are in need. The movement follows the Charta of its founder, Edmond Kaiser, pledging to provide direct and unbureaucratic assistance to children in distress, wherever they may be. Resolute commitment and long-term experience have led to Terre des hommes today playing a leading role in the field of humanitarian aid at an international level. With emergency action and long term projects, Terre des hommes is fighting for children’s rights in 30 countries, practising a strict policy of political, ideological and religious neutrality, the website of Terre des homme said.