Indian hospital treats 4,000 Tamil patients from LTTE areas

T V Sriram

Colombo, Apr 30 (PTI) Bringing some relief to civilians
fleeing the war zone in Sri Lanka, a hospital set up by India
in the island's east has treated more than 4,000 Tamil
patients from the LTTE-controlled areas.

"...we have brought in a field hospital which has already
treated more than 4,000 patients being evacuated by ICRC
(International Committee for Red Cross) at Pulmoddai near the
Eastern Trincomalee district," Indian High Commissioner Alok
Prasad said here Thursday.

The government is also considering expanding facilities
in the 115-bed hospital in Pulamoddai, Prasad said after
handing over Indian relief supplies for the Internally
Displaced Persons (IDPs).

"We intend to relocate and expand this hospital in the
Vavuniya region to cater to medical needs of the IDPs there."

Apart from this fully equipped hospital, India has gifted
medicines and other medical supplies worth Sri Lankan Rupees
100 million to the government here which would be used in
hospitals in the island's north and east, he said.

His remarks came days after the life of a Tamil civilian
was saved by the timely intervention of Indian doctors, who
brought a glimmer of hope for persons running away from the
LTTE-Lankan Army conflict.

The incident occurred recently when the patient from Wanni
was brought in the hospital in serious condition. He was
treated successfully by Indian doctors.

"Pulmoddai was thought to be the best location for
setting up the hospital as it was near Mullaittivu from where
the IDPs patients would be coming in," an official said.

A 52-member Indian medical team had left for Pulmoddai
near Trincomalee from Colombo on March 11 to open a health
centre and a hospital to treat the Tamil IDPs coming from the
war zone in Wanni.

The Indian team comprising eight physicians and surgeons
and other assisting staff had set up an emergency medical unit
and hospital to cater to the medical requirements of the IDPs
being evacuated from northern Sri Lanka.

According to Sri Lankan officials, about 30 houses have
already been allocated for the Indian medical team.

The authorities said that 18-19 truck loads of equipment
and other accessories were sent along with the Indian medical
team to set up the hospital in Pulmoddai last month.

Over 1.15 lakh Tamil IDPs have crossed over to the
government-controlled territories since January this year. PTI