International aid necessary to rehabilitate NE hospitals - Minister

[TamilNet, Monday, 28 April 2003, 11:02 GMT]
Without interntational aid it will not be possible to renovate and rebuild hospitals damaged or destroyed by war in the Northeast province, said Minister of Health Services P. Dayaratne, addressing an event held in conjuntion with upgrading the Vavuniya General Hospital.

Vavuniya district Assistant Commissioner for Health Services, Dr.Arumugam Ketheeswaran presided the event. Minister of Rehabilitation, Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena, Minister of National Health Sarath Chandra Rajakaruna, Vanni district Rehabilitation Minister Noordeen Mazoor, Vanni parliamentarians Selvam Adaikalanathan, K. Rajakuganeswaran, N. Sivasakthi Ananthan, T. Sitharthan, Vavunia Government Agent K.Ganesh, Additional Secretary to the Health Ministry Nihal Jeyatilleke, Health Advisor Dr.V.Jeganathan and several other health officials and workers participated in the event.

Minister Dayaratne used the opportunity to learn the urgent needs and possible solutions for the Vavuniya health sector from the Health officials and other knowlegeable sources, medical sources attending the event said.

The Minister assured the Vavuniya medical authorities that he will take all steps to support building a 100 to 150 bed nursing home as part of the Vavuniya General Hospital, and requested the officials to submit a detailed plan to build such a facility.

Minister Dayaratne also promised to provide medical equipment that are in urgent need at the hospital. He also said that improving the health service sector in Vavuniya will figure prominently in plans that are being drawn for development of Northeast by Worldbank and other international organizations.

The Minister, accompanied by other health officials ceremoniously opened the newly constructed Rs. 3.5 million Vavuniya South Health secretariat building and the Rs. 15m Ayurvedic Hospital in Pampaimadu, sources said.