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Damage to
Hospitals, Health Institutions Estimated At Rs.
7000m |
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Removal of
debris and reconstructions started immediately. |
The
total damage caused to the hospitals and health institutions
by the tsunami has been estimated at Rs. 7000 million, a
senior Health Ministry official told the Daily News
yesterday.
The tsunami waves damaged 45 hospitals with some of them
completely washed away and others badly affected.
"This Rs. 7000 million is the damage caused to the hospitals
and medical equipment too," official added. The cost of the
damage was estimated after an assessment conducted by the
Health Ministry's Planning Unit.
According to Health Ministry statistics, the affected
hospitals are located in the districts of Galle, Trincomalee,
Kalutara, Mulaitivu, Kilinochchi, Jaffna, Batticaloa, Ampara,
Hambantota and Matara.
The Deputy Director General of the Health Ministry is now
visiting all the affected hospitals to take necessary
measures to begin the reconstruction and rehabilitation work
on the affected hospitals.
The
Ministry is planning to obtain the assistance and aid of
donor agencies such as WHO, IMF, UNICEF, UN Aid for the
reconstruction work of these hospitals "Already, several
foreign and local donors have expressed willingness to
contribute towards the
reconstruction work of these hospitals."
In order to cater to the existing requirements, the Health
Ministry has taken steps to acquire Government and Private
buildings in the tsunami ravaged areas to be used as health
camps as the authorities mounted the biggest ever disease
control operation to combat the outbreak of epidemics in the
disaster hit zones.
Besides, the Ministry has launched a special round the clock
program to distribute drugs required for the victims in all
the affected areas.
"All the necessary drugs have been sent to the affected
areas and there is no shortage of drugs there," the
spokesman added. |
           
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