Rotary SL organises Rs. 10 m plastic surgery project

• Top team of 11 top German doctors in town to carry out surgeries

Interplast German Team Leader Dr. Matthias Gensior (fourth from left) addressing the media as (from left) Rotary Club of Colombo West President Sirikananathan, Rotary Sri Lanka Governor Gowri Rajan, German Ambassador in Sri Lanka Dr. Jürgen Morhard, Dr. Neville Fernando Hospital Head of Medical Service Dr. Lackshan Fernando and Rotary Colombo West Plastic Surgery Project Chairman Roshan Lyman look on – Pic by Lasantha Kumara

By Inshira Shainaz Rotary Sri Lanka, in partnership with Interplast Germany and Dr. Neville Fernando Hospital in Malabe, is conducting consultations and surgeries from 10 to 20 November for burn injuries, hand disabilities and upper lip palates with a team of 11 top German doctors in the country to carry out the project. The estimated value of the project surpasses Rs. 10 million and was initiated by the German Embassy, which informed a Rotarian that there was a team of top doctors in Germany who visits various parts of the world offering their time and resources as a part of their social responsibility. The notice was brought to Rotary Sri Lanka’s attention by an active Rotarian. Given the importance of the project, the team worked for almost nine months to get things in place before the project was kicked off. The Dr. Neville Fernando Hospital in Malabe was selected due to its impressive array of services and the availability of German equipment. The hospital agreed to provide services free of charge to carry out the operations there. Dr. Neville Fernando Hospital Head of Medical Service Dr. Lackshan Fernando stated: “We are really happy and honoured to be a part of this project. We planned this project for around six months. It is very comfortable to work with the Interplast team. Patients came from different parts of the country to be treated by this team.” He added: “There are three categories of patients – those who come for consultations for second opinions, surgical patients who want to obtain medical advice; and surgery patients. Treating surgery patients is our main aim. So far we have carried out around 50 surgeries and everyone who visits the hospital has the chance of meeting the doctors.” The youngest child to be operated on was nine months old. The surgery was successfully done and she is expected to be sent home by today (19). This young patient was on the waiting list of a Government hospital, with the operation scheduled for 2017. This successful surgery will improve the child’s quality of life. Commenting on the project, German Ambassador in Sri Lanka Dr. Jürgen Morhard said: “Today is a day which I like most because today is a day of friendship between the societies. This is nothing to do with the Government; this is an initiative between society and people. It is about how the people are benefited. Germany started helping Sri Lanka 10 years ago – this is not the first time.” This project is free for needy Sri Lankans islandwide and provides specialist consultation following an initial screening process, following which they are selected for surgery and aftercare. Rotary Sri Lanka Governor Gowri Rajan stated: “Given the unemployment level in Sri Lanka at single digit level and the expanding economy targeting $ 100 billion, we must make sure that every Sri Lanka is employable and productive with a very high level of confidence and employability.” She thanked the Rotary Club of Colombo West partnering Rotary District 3220 in this endeavour, which identified needy people who require such complex surgeries.