Informationen zum Babyhospital Galle, eine Provinzhauptstadt an der Westküste Sri Lankas 130 km südlich von Colombo, gewährleistet der Bevölkerung u.a. die Gesundheitsversorgung. Die Stadt verfügt über ein Klinikgebäude welches mit 450 Betten ausschließlich der Entbindung und der Nachsorge für Mütter und Neugeborene gewidmet ist. Das Gebäude liegt – nur durch eine relativ schmale Straße getrennt – direkt am Meer. Die Verwüstung und die Zerstörung der so schlimm betroffenen Stadt Galle haben auch vor dem Klinikgebäude mit 450 Betten nicht Halt gemacht . Insbesondere die Geburtshilfestation ist mit ihrer gesamten Ausstattung völlig zerstört. Das Klinikgebäude musste vollständig evakuiert werden. Im Central Hospital in Galle konnte eine kleine Abteilung mit 70 Betten notdürftig zur Verfügung gestellt werden.
Hochschwangere Frauen sitzen buchstäblich auf der Straße; ihre Sitzgelegenheiten bestehen aus Pappdeckeln und mitgebrachten Decken. Ein Bett erhält nur diejenige Frau, bei welcher der Geburtsvorgang bereits erkennbar eingesetzt hat. Die Ärzte haben keinerlei Ausstattung, die für den Betrieb einer Entbindungsstation eigentlich erforderlich ist. Technische Geräte zur Behandlung von Frühgeburten sind nicht mehr vorhanden.
Hier der Hilfeaufruf von Prof. Malik Goonewardene, dem Leiter der Klinik:
Dear Mrs Jeska-Zimmermann and Professor Frei, I have obtained an appointment to meet Dr. Stephan J Holthoff-Pfortner (Dr. Helmut KOHL's attorney) at 5.30 pm, today in Aluthgama 75 km north of Galle. As I mentioned to you Mr. Helmut KOHL has promised to fund the new hospital building. This will have to be done through our Ministry of Health because it is a government hospital. Therefore, it is essential that I arrange Dr.Stephan J Holthoff - Pfortner to meet the Ministry officials and get a formal agreement signed, and also get the block of land, which has been already identified in Karapitiya, allocated for this purpose, before he leaves Sri Lanka. I have been informed that it would not be possible to build the hospital through funds channeled through the Rotary alone, without getting the Ministry of Health involved in it. However donations from the Rotary can be utilized not only to obtain equipment but also to fund specific items in the building project . We too are collecting funds on our part through the Galle Mother Care Foundation to help in establishing a new maternity hospital in Karapitiya.
Engineers have estimated that the new hospital complex including quarters and services will cost approximately 870 million Sri Lanka Rs. ( US$ 8. 5 Million ). The cost of equipment is estimated to be approximately 475 million Sri Lanka Rs. (US$ 4.5 million ). I am sure we should be able to use some of the general items which may be discarded from Weida hospital in Greiz , in which case the cost will be less.
A slide show of the damage to our hospital is enclosed herewith and shows the extent of the damage.
As I mentioned to you only one baby was lost and none of the patients, doctors and members of the nursing staff on duty died. This is a reflection of their dedication to duty and prompt action of evacuating all the patients from the hospital safely. However, at least 10 doctors and 6 medical students in the area are known to have died.
Our hospital had 450 beds with 3 labour wards, 4 operating theatres, premature baby unit, surgical & neonatal intensive care units, In Vitro Fertilization lab, Pathology lab, Radiology & Sonology department, Blood bank, Outpatient department and an administration block. It also had residential quarters for the director of the hospital as well as the other resident doctors & nurses working there. It was the main tertiary care Gynaecological & Maternity hospital for the entire southern province of Sri Lanka. It was also the only teaching hospital for Obstetrics & Gynaecology in the southern province. Therefore undergraduates and postgraduates were trained there. Nursing and Midwifery students too were trained there.
Today we are functioning with great difficulty in a 70-bed facility at Karapitiya Hospital, with a makeshift labour area within the ward itself and one( 1 ) operating theatre. Not only the patients but also all the doctors and nurses who were affected by the tidal waves have been brought to Karapitiya Hospital. It is very difficult for everybody. There are no residential quarters for the doctors & nurses who have come from the damaged hospital In spite of great physical & mental stress these doctors & nurses are doing yeomen service.
Thanking you for your concern and assistance.
With warm regards, Prof. Malik Goonewardene
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