UNICEF helping renovate hospitals in former LTTE areas

UNICEF helping renovate hospitals in former LTTE areas
A year after the defeat of the LTTE, the United Nations Children’s Fund is actively assisting in reviving the hospitals and health facilities in the war ravaged areas of North once dominated by the LTTE.
The UNICEF is refurbishing and renovating four Gramodaya Health Centres in the Northern Province and is also modernising and equipping the obstetric and paediatric units of the Mullaithivu General Hospital.
The UNICEF on Thursday re-established emergency obstetric and paediatric care at the Kilinochchi General Hospital damaged during the conflict.
In a special event, Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, along with UNICEF Representative Philippe Duamelle, re-opened the new facility.
The hospital is now equipped to handle complicated obstetric procedures and allow pregnant mothers to deliver their babies safely, says a UNICEF release.
Besides providing assistance for the operation theatre, labour room, maternity and paediatric wards that were refurbished and equipped, UNICEF will also help provide a special baby care unit in the Kilinochchi hospital.
As a result, pregnant women, mothers and children will no longer need to travel long distances to access specialised health care, the release said.
"This project will serve the health needs of thousands of women and children now returning back to their homes" the release quoted UNICEF Representative Philippe Duamelle as saying at the opening.
While Sri Lanka is doing well in preventing maternal deaths with 37 per 100,000 live births, there are regional disparities in maternal mortality across the country, the UNICEF release said.
This were further affected by the conflict in the north and east, it said.
"UNICEF is committed to continue supporting the restoration of quality health and nutrition services in these areas," Duamelle said.
In addition to the Kilinochchi hospital, Minister Basil Rajapaksa and Philippe Duamelle also opened the Musali maternity building in Mannar district constructed by UNICEF.
The total estimated cost of Rs 154 million for restoring these health facilities is funded by UNICEF, the release said.
Contributions for the facilities were also received from the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), UK Department for International Development (DFID), United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Government of Spain, it said. (PTI)