Medical Aid to Sri Lanka-Inner Wheel Club donate ventilator to Castle Street Hospital

From right: Inner Wheel Club Colombo West President Kumudini Kulasinghe and Medical Aid to Sri Lanka in the UK Founder President Dr. Sunila Sarathchandra hand over the Newport brand ICU ventilator to Consultant Neonatologist Dr. Saman Kumara, Castle Street Hospital for Women Director Dr. Gamini Seneviratne and other medical officials 

A much-needed neonatal ventilator (Newport brand) worth Rs.2.5 million was donated to the Castle Street Hospital for Women by the UK Association for Medical Aid to Sri Lanka, in collaboration with the Inner Wheel Club of Colombo West, recently, at the Castle Street Hospital for Women. 
Castle Street Hospital for Women Director Dr. Gamini Seneviratne extended a warm welcome to everyone and thanked Medical Aid to Sri Lanka and Inner Wheel Club of Colombo West for the donation. 
Inner Wheel Club of Colombo West President Kumudini Kulasinghe addressed the gathering and stated how pleased Inner Wheel Club of Colombo West was, to be donating this vital piece of medical equipment in partnership with Medical Aid to Sri Lanka in the UK.
The Inner Wheel Club of Colombo West is a member of the International Inner Wheel Movement, which is one of the largest women’s service voluntary organisations in the world, helping people and extending a hand of friendship.
Kulasinghe said that when the club was informed of the requirement of the hospital of this expensive piece of medical equipment, they contacted Medical Aid to Sri Lanka in the UK. The association readily agreed to this request. She said that the club greatly appreciated their generous donation and took this opportunity to thank Committee Member Dr. Sunila Sarathchandra and Dr. Sarath Sarathchandra of Medical Aid to Sri Lanka in the UK, who were present to hand over the Neonatal Ventilator. 
In addition to the ventilator, the club donated a pulse oxymeter, stainless steel saline stands, folding beds and wheel chairs to the hospital.
Medical Aid to Sri Lanka in the UK Committee Member and Founder President Dr. Sunila Sarathchandra explained that the association was founded in 1995 by a group of expatriate Sri Lankans who had the vision to help relieve sickness and disease in communities in Sri Lanka through the donations of equipment and the sharing of expertise. It is a registered charity in the UK. 
She also stated that with a mission to save lives and improve communities, the charity donates vital medical and surgical equipment to government hospitals in all corners of Sri Lanka. To date the charity has donated medical equipment to over 30 government hospitals in Sri Lanka to the value of over 400,000 sterling pounds.
Castle Street Hospital for Women Consultant Neonatologist Dr. Saman Kumara gave a brief description of the use of the ventilator. He said that the ventilator is used when a baby cannot breathe on its own and by aiding the baby to breath; it saves a life. He also pointed out that we are donating life and not a ventilator. He appreciated the Inner Wheel Club’s donation of the pulse oxymeter, which is used to measure the flow of oxygen.
While thanking Medical Aid to Sri Lanka in the UK and Inner Wheel Club of Colombo West, Dr. Kumara said that their ambition is to equip the NICU with the latest equipment and bring it to a standard of the hospitals in developed countries. He also said that by helping the hospital a baby who is born will in turn grow up to be a productive citizen of the country.