LEADS DONATES EMERGENCY MEDICAL SUPPLIES TO SUPPORT SRI LANKA’S COVID-19 RESPONSE IN RATNAPURA

On 19 June, LEADS handed over emergency medical supplies valued at over 2 million through its regional office in Ratnapura at the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council premises as part of LEADS’ ongoing response to the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka.

Hon. Pavithra Devi Wanniarachchi – Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine, Hon. Tiron Aththanayake – Mayor of Ratnapura, Mrs. Malani Lokupothagama – Government Agent of the Ratnapura District, Dr. Kapila Kannangara – Provincial Director of Health Services, Sabaragamuwa, Mrs. G. D. L. Udaya Kumari – the NGO Coordinator of the Ratnapura District, Director Anoja Rodrigo of the Ratnapura Teaching Hospital and Director H. N. P. Kumar of the Eheliyagoda Base Hospital in Ratnapura accepted the donation made by LEADS as presented on behalf of the organisation by Manjula Samaranayake – LEADS’ Ratnapura District Coordinator. The medical supplies and materials include three syringe pumps, two pulse oximeters and two infusion pumps for the use of the Ratnapura Teaching Hospital and a high flow nasal oxygen machine for the Eheliyagoda Base Hospital in Ratnapura.

“The medical equipment provided by LEADS is important in treating COVID-19 patients with breathing difficulties. It is a timely act that will enable us to save many patients and we greatly appreciate the donation”, said Dr. H. M N. P Kumari, Director of the Eheliyagoda Base Hospital.

She added: “The high flow nasal oxygen will improve oxygen supply and is a valuable contribution to the hospital.”

As the number of COVID-19 confirmed patients increase to 235,413 and the death toll rises to 2,480 as recorded by the National Epidemiological Unit as at 18 June 2021, the country continues to face travel restrictions and other measures put in place to curb the spread of the virus. Most hospitals and quarantine centres are reaching capacity and medical staff are working tirelessly in responding to the crisis situation. LEADS continues to support ongoing relief efforts through its donation of medical supplies and wishes to support medical personnel in their herculean task of treating those affected by the pandemic situation. These supplies thereby will be crucial in saving lives and supporting the health services and security personnel in their battle against the pandemic situation.

LEADS continues to work closely with healthcare workers and local government officials across Sri Lanka, joining forces with state and non-state actors working towards curbing the spread of the virus in the country. Thus far, LEADS has been successful in raising support with the help of its partners and the general public in providing for urgent requirements of quarantine centres in Kandakadu and Ampara. LEADS also facilitated the donation of 8,000 FFP3 masks to the Ministry of Health and is currently extending its support to 12 hospitals across the country. The organisation will provide 75 hygiene packs to quarantine centres, 25 PPE packs for frontline workers and 1,250 packs of dry rations for isolated and vulnerable families. Additionally, LEADS continues to support Child Development Centres (CDC) which are most affected by the prevailing situation. LEADS will provide 10 of these CDCs with 36 hygiene packs and dry ration stocks as well as well as psychosocial support for 15 CDCs and 60 probation officers who are working with the children receiving care at these centres.

LEADS is a national agency which works towards creating safer spaces and brighter futures for the children of Sri Lanka. As an approved charity, LEADS’ work is integrated in recognising the child as part of a family, community and the nation, through its work with survivors of abuse, underprivileged communities and those at risk of natural and man-made disasters, both at grassroot and national policy level. Over the years, LEADS has responded to several socio-natural crisis situations that have arisen – from the 30-year civil war to the Asian Tsunami of 2004 to the recent COVID-19 pandemic. LEADS’ support during the past year, in the form of dry rations for persons affected, PPE kits for local government authorities, hand-wash units for schools and emergency centres and livelihoods for rural households affected by the pandemic, reached the most vulnerable communities across the island.

LEADS will continue to support those responding to the pandemic, while reaching out to children and communities most affected by the situation. We appeal to the public to join hands with us and support our relief efforts by donating online via www.leads.lk/donate. For more details on how you could support, please contact us on (+94) 77 318 7652 or write to us at [email protected]

ENDS–

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *