Direct Relief USA donation of $ 10 million worth of medicine will save many lives – Prime Minister Dinesh

Wednesday, 28 September 2022 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena thanked the Direct Relief USA for its donation of life-saving medicines worth $ 10 million to hospitals in Sri Lanka.

Speaking with the Direct Relief USA Emergency Response Manager Chris Alleway and Senior Communication Specialist Maeve O’Connor at the Prime Minister’s office in Colombo on Monday, he said the medicines provided by the Direct Relief USA will save many lives of Sri Lankans.

The Prime Minister said the health authorities would immediately supply these medicines to the hospitals faced with shortage. He pointed out that Sri Lanka boasts of an excellent health service with adequate hospitals and medical personnel across the country and the main drawback is the shortage of some medicines due to the economic crisis. While the Government took steps to import medicine immediately, such donations from friends of Sri Lanka would be of much help to fulfil immediate requirements. Emergency Response Manager Alleway said that Direct Relief USA selected medicines needed at Sri Lankan hospitals after close coordination with the Ministry of Health, Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) and the US-based Medical Help Sri Lanka Global Alliance.

Communication Coordinator of Medical Help Sri Lanka Global Alliance Paddy Dissanayake, together with the members of Sri Lanka Associations jointly work with various humanitarian aid organisations in the USA, United Kingdom, Canada, Malaysia and several other countries and obtained essential emergency medicines for Sri Lanka. During the month of September, Medical Help SL Global Alliance in collaboration with Direct Relief USA donated several consignments of medicines worth $ 20.3 million (Rs. 7.3 billion).

Secretary to the Prime Minister Anura Dissanayake and Medical Help Initiative Coordinator Gihan Jayaratne were also present on this occasion.