Sarvodaya has handed over newly built Emergency Treatment Unit and Surgical Theater to Padaviya District Hospital.
Padaviya District Hospital is one of the transit hospitals for the IDPs who were evacuated through sea route from Pulmodai. With the sudden increase of the patient load in recent times, the Padaviya government hospital could not cope with the available facilities. Therefore the Ministry of Health and Nutrition made an urgent appeal to Sarvodaya to construct an Emergency Treatment Unit and an additional surgical theater. Realizing the immediate need, Sarvodaya agreed to fulfill this need and the Sarvodaya Rural Technical Services (SRTS) quickly mobilized its technical staff to do the construction designs and to build the facilities. In the mean time, the urgent appeal of funding assistance made to the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (AJJDC) for this project received a positive response. The SRTS was able to complete the construction within a short time span of 4 weeks and the facility was handed over to the hospital by Dr. A. T. Ariyaratne, the Founder President of Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement on 25th May, 2009.
Dr. Ariyaratne speaking
Dr. AT Aroyaratne unveiling the plaque at Padaviya Hospital
Dr. AT Ariyaratne with the staff of Padaviya Hospital
This facility will not only serve the IDPs but also the resident population of Padaviya who have been subjected to extreme hardships during the 3 decades of war. The ceremony was attended by Hon. Tissa Karaliyadda, the Minister of Indigenous Medicine, also MP for the area, Dr. Palitha Bandara, Regional Director of Health Services, Anuradhapura and Dr. Mahinda Uyangoda, the District Medical Officer of the Padaviya District Hospital.
This was followed by a gathering of Sarvodaya Shramadana Society leaders in the area.