Response to Sri Lanka Health Crisis – Update

Sri Lanka Medical Association North America Inc (SLMANA Inc.) wants to share with you this update of our activities in this time of deprivation and chaos in Sri Lanka.

We learned that every hospital in the country was quickly running out of basic medical supplies and drugs and felt it our immediate duty to help.

We reached out to the National Hospital of Sri Lanka, final referral center and found out directly from our colleagues the extent of their need for assistance.

To this end we started a GoFundMe campaign and with your concern and generosity raised over $47,000 within two weeks. We are using the funds to procure supplies that the hospital desperately needs to function and already delivered $25,000 worth of in-stock supplies by direct payment to vendors identified by the hospital.

We continue to procure items for the Emergency Treatment Unit and extended our donations to the Cardiac Surgery and other units of the hospital. Nasogastric tubes, Urinary catheters, Bipap respirator masks, Defibrillator pads, Respirator leak ports, Glucose strips and other necessary items supplied are currently in use.

We are well aware of the needs of all the other hospitals as well. Many of us trained and our families receive treatment at these very same hospitals and the thought of what they are going through is just incredibly sad.

We, together with you, are doing the best we can to help.

Sincerely,

Trikante Rajapaksa MD
President – SLMANA Inc

Sri Lanka is going through a grave economic crisis affecting many sectors. In addition to the many deprivations, the people suffer from lack of essential medical supplies. Doctors and hospitals in Sri Lanka are calling for medical supplies like nasogastric tubes, urinary catheters, thoracic catheters, glucose strips, ketone strips and other items to fill this dire need.

In accordance with our mission of helping Sri Lankans with medical needs Sri Lanka Medical Association North America (SLMANA) Inc makes this urgent appeal to all concerned persons to help the ‘Emergency Treatment Unit – National Hospital Sri Lanka.

All funds will go to the vendor’s account directly and supplies will be delivered to Emergency Treatment Unit – National Hospital Sri Lanka.

Please help us achieve our goal of alleviating suffering by providing these and other essential items. Even the smallest tax-deductible donation will go a long way.
“Helping one person may not change the world, but it could change the world for one person” – Anonymous