Sunday Times 2
Rotary Clubs of Japan and Sri Lanka join for ETU project at National Hospital
View(s):The Rotary Clubs of Hamamatsu South and the Rotary Club of Colombo West implemented a joint project to transform the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka.
The project is spearheaded by Rtn Lalaka Silva, a Lankan resident in Japan, President of the Rotary Club of Hamamatsu South who is the first non-Japanese in this office.
The National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL) serves as the main tertiary care health provider for the country, catering to an estimated population of 250,000 in-patients and 2 million outpatients annually. However, the current 8-bed ETU, spanning a mere 400 square feet, struggles to provide emergency care to approximately 100 critically ill patients daily. A lack of resources, including space, beds, and equipment, leaves 50-75 patients in need of immediate care without proper facilities. Due to the limited number of beds, to accommodate more patients and prevent overcrowding, the hospital is compelled to expedite the emergency care given to critically ill patients with quick transfers to wards. This results in less than optimum care for the patients needing more careful and meticulous attention.
President Lalaka de Silva, RC Hammamatsu South and the visiting team from Japan
Responding to this urgent need, President Silva forged a strong partnership between his club Hamamatsu South and the Rotary Club of Colombo West. The two clubs undertook to address the urgent need for medical equipment at the ETU and contributed US$110,000, whilst District Governor Nakamura Koseki of District 2620 Japan provided crucial support with a contribution from the District Development Fund. The initiative was also supported by Nakamuara Yukio, Grants Sub-committee Chair and Morita Hidetaka, Vice Chair of the Rotary Foundation in District 2620 Japan.
The ETU is in dire need of expansion and modernisation to accommodate the patients seeking emergency care. A fully equipped Emergency Department (ED) is essential to enhance the standard of care and serve as a model unit for secondary EDs across Sri Lanka. This transformation will not only save millions in the annual healthcare budget but also streamline the admission process, reducing unnecessary admissions and providing relief to patient families.
This project was inaugurated by the Rotary International President Gordon R McInally who was in Sri Lanka from January 20-27. A team of Japanese Rotarians participated in the event.