Alumni Association of University of Peradeniya – Colombo Chapter expands services to community

Wall oxygen project presented to the Kalubowila Hospital Director by the AAUP-CC/PEFAA-CC President

Handing over the donation to Lady Ridgeway Hospital 

Donation at the University of Peradeniya to the Vice Chancellor by AAUP-CC General Secretary Dr. K.A.C.S. Jayampathi

The Alumni Association of the University of Peradeniya – Colombo Chapter is one of the most active university alumni in Sri Lanka. Its passion is to help citizens of the country during situations of national disaster. The highest strength of the Association is the membership of more than 2,000 graduates, their commitment, and the leadership of Dr. Vipula Jayampathi, the President of the Association.

The CSR project was initiated by the Association to support the health sector who were working tirelessly to combat and control COVID-19 in the country and for the benefit of patients by donating personal protection equipment, hospital equipment, medical devices and lifesaving equipment/systems such as oxygen supply systems for critical patients and other supplies as required by the hospitals and health institutions.

The total value of donations was nearly Rs. 20 million and the project continued for a couple of months. 22 health institutions consisting of six general/teaching hospitals (Colombo North Teaching – Ragama, Karapitiya Teaching, Cardiology Unit – NHSL, CSHW – Castle Street, Lady Ridgway, Colombo South Teaching – Kalubowila), five base hospitals (Homagama, Balapitiya, Horana, Pimbura and Marawila), four divisional/district hospitals (Gampaha, Wethara, Ambalangoda and Hikkaduwa), two national hospitals (Apeksha – Maharagama and Chest Hospital – Welisara) together with MOH – Colombo Fort, CMC – Maternity and Child Department, COVID Intermediate Care Centre – University of Peradeniya, Prison Hospital and Aparakka Ayurvedic Hospital across the country were benefited with the donations of critically needed equipment.

The members of AAUP-CC and a large number of well-wishers coordinated by AAUP-CC President Dr. Vipula Jayampathi and the members of the Association joined hands and contributed for the project in numerous ways. The dedicated team of AAUP-CC coordinated the project liaising with needy health institutions and suppliers of equipment overcoming difficulties under challenging conditions due to the prevailing restrictions to control the pandemic situation at that time. The support received from the management and staffs of these health institutions were commendable and it encouraged the task team to continue the project adapting to the situation. The suppliers provided the equipment and transportation at very reasonable prices understanding the value of the project.

The Association was complemented by the recipient hospitals with a warm welcome and gesture of gratitude for stepping in to help them. 

With the escalating number of infections, University of Peradeniya established a COVID Intermediate Care Centre managed by the University Health Centre to cater to the infected staff, students and their immediate family members. Colombo Chapter made donations of medical and other equipment with the request of university medical officials. 

Among these donations the wall oxygen supply systems for Horana Base Hospital and Colombo South Teaching Hospital were more valued at the critical stages of the pandemic to directly save the lives of the critical patients. It was revealed with the hospital statistics, these two projects helped to reduce the death rate due to COVID-19.

These two projects were done with the collaboration of Peradeniya Engineering Faculty Alumni Association – Colombo Chapter (PEFAA CC) and Institute of Engineers Sri Lanka.