Following a meeting between the Sri Lankan Minister for Health, Senake Ameresinghe and Pubudu De Goysa from Rotary Colombo, Dr Harsha Gunasekara, President of the National Stroke Association, and PP Peter Cribb of Flemington Kensington Rotary, a partnership project was planned, with the assistance of RARE SA and Rotary Donations in Kind, to deliver medical equipment to fit-out stroke units in nine Sri Lankan hospitals.
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as a very high incidence of people suffering from stroke, yet there are just 74 dedicated stroke beds across nine hospitals in the whole country. Access to a stroke unit is possible for about 14% of sufferers – in 91%.As part of the planning, a detailed and extensive ‘wish list’ was compiled by Dr Gunasekara and his team and conveyed to Rotary Donations in Kind. As hospital beds were still in short supply following the COVID pandemic, Peter Cribb reached out to RARE who were able to assist. With further assistance from former MLA Craig Ondarchie, a connection was made with the Australian Sri Lankan Association (ASLA) in Adelaide. Through their President Nishani Seneviratne funds were collected to fund the shipping of a container from RARE in Adelaide. ASLA members (many of whom are doctors) worked with the RARE team led by Manager Dave Cockshell to identify equipment and load the container. Further assisted was provided by the Sri Lankan Consulate of Adelaide.
Meanwhile, a second container funded by Flemington Kensington Rotary was organised through Rotary Donations in Kind, West Footscray. This container was loaded by Flemington Kensington Rotarians and the DiK crew and shipped two months later.
Equipment sent included: hospital beds and mattresses, patient monitors and blood pressure machines, transfer trolleys, examination tables, 47 wheelchairs and 24 walkers, 23 walking sticks.16 toilet overframe seats, six medication trolleys, 15 cupboards, five tables, 24 patient chairs, 11 cartons medical supplies, blankets and bed linen.In Sri Lanka, Dr Harsha Gunasekara worked with his team to identify the needs of each hospital, and allocated resources by priority. The Rotary Club of Colombo facilitated unloading and storage of equipment on arrival and arranged for signage to acknowledge the contributing and supporting organisations. The first allocations went to the Teaching Hospital in Nagoda, in the Southern Province which received 20 hospital beds, 10 wheelchairs, 5 commode chairs, 2 syringe pumps, 2 transfer trolleys, 5 cupboards and 3 tables. Dr Harsha Gunasekara reported “hospital staff were delighted with these items, already making such a difference to patient care”.
Despite several setbacks, roadblocks, challenges and difficulties, perseverance, persistence and exploring possibilities resulted in success. Don’t accept what seems to be insurmountable: think outside the box, explore options, ask for help and never give up!
Thank you to everyone who participated in any way. This project shows the strength in Rotary connections; the tentacles of reach which come together to have such impact, and our engagement with the broader community.
From Top: Sri Lankan Minister for Health SL, PP Peter Cribb, PDG Senake Ameresinghe, PDG Pubdu de Zoysa, Dr Harsha Gunasekara meeting in Colombo, 2023; Loading at DIK; Packing container #1 at RARE; Equipment in situ at Nagoda Teaching Hospital