ChildFund and donors establish 40-bed temporary COVID treatment centre at Base Hospital Mullaitivu

ChildFund Sri Lanka together with Donors at the handover of the 40-Bed Temporary COVID Treatment Centre

• All donations pledged were doubled with ChildFund’s 1:1 matching program

ChildFund Sri Lanka, proactively working to support the authorities in the battle against COVID-19, has helped to establish a temporary 40-bed COVID-19 treatment centre at the Puthukkudiyiruppu Divisional Hospital, Mullaitivu. 

This facility which was declared open on 10 August for the public, serves COVID-19-infected patients who come to the hospital seeking treatment.

Supporting the project towards its successful completion were numerous partners such as the Regional Director of Health Services Mullaitivu, Sri Lanka Army, ChildFund Korea and VOICE Area Federation. These partners also assisted towards the renovation and establishment of the other facilities in the premises such as the renovation and partition of the building, provision of 40 beds including linen and furniture for inpatients, CCTV monitoring system to remotely monitor patients and the setting up and provision of equipment for the doffing area. 

This initiative is part of ChildFund Sri Lanka’s commitment to provide concrete help to the nation during the pandemic and aligned to its ‘Sri Lanka Gives Back’ fundraiser aimed at supporting relief requirements stemming from COVID-19 and also engaging the contribution of stakeholders to strengthen this cause. Contributing to the successful establishment of the COVID-19 treatment centre was ChildFund ‘s 1 to 1 match program - where every donation received, ChildFund pledged a similar amount.

ChildFund Sri Lanka Business Development Director Dinantha Thambavita noted, “We understand the importance of standardised treatment facilities to curb the pandemic and fight against COVID-19; we sincerely thank all our stakeholders and donors who supported this noteworthy endeavour through the ‘Sri Lanka Gives Back’ fundraiser by ChildFund. ChildFund remains committed to matching every donation received on a one-to-one basis, either in the form of cash or medical equipment pledged offering a lifeline to those affected.” 

The project, estimated at Rs. 4.5 million was also accomplished with the support of several donors and stakeholders who contributed to the Sri Lanka Gives Back campaign. These donors include John Keells Foundation which provided the funds for the Multipara Monitor installed at the treatment centre. 

Commenting on their support, JKF Head of Operation Carmeline Jayasuriya said, “As the CSR entity of John Keells Holdings PLC, John Keells Foundation, together with businesses of the John Keells Group, has been supporting key State institutions and affected communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, playing our part in ensuring frontline services and vulnerable groups of the population are adequately supported. We are pleased to have joined ChildFund Sri Lanka for the first time in this important initiative, particularly in the context of our recently-concluded seven-year Village Adoption Project in Puthukkudiyiruppu and hope to partner the organisation in future endeavours of mutual interest.”

Supporting the centre through fundraising and donations was the Rotaract Club of University Alumni. Elaborating on their involvement, Hasithi Samarasinghe said, “As the COVID-19 pandemic spreads uncertainty and hardship, we as Rotaractors, are engaged in offering help to those who are in need. Disease prevention and treatment is one of Rotary’s main focus areas and through our fundraising drives we have been able to contribute towards ChildFund’s treatment centre project.”

Other stakeholders who contributed towards the establishment of the treatment centre include Leo Club of Colombo Fort, part of the international youth movement of Lions Clubs International, the largest service club organisation of the world, the Global Shapers Kandy Hub comprising of young professionals, passionate about making positive change and Headstart Ltd., a leading EdTech solutions provider offering digital learning content, software solutions, and digital transformation consultancy services.

Public donors also contributed magnanimously towards purchasing medical equipment for the treatment centre.

With the successful completion of this project, ChildFund Sri Lanka aims to continue to help the nation and all communities affected by this unprecedented health crisis by looking to support more activities on a need basis in the future.

 ChildFund Sri Lanka together with Donors Establish 40-Bed Temporary COVID Treatment Centre at Base Hospital Mullaitivu