Pavithra lauds dedicated service of health staff

All health staff have been vaccinated and their support is needed for COVID-19 patient care services, Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi said.

She was participating at the official handing over ceremony of the Special COVID Treatment Unit, constructed with the labour and technical assistance of the Air Force, at the Mulleriyawa Base Hospital to the Health Ministry yesterday.

The event was attended by Air Force Commander Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana.

The construction of the new ward complex was carried out by the Director of Civil Engineering of the Air Force in three months. It has five wards and 160 beds. There are two treatment units for men and women with one unit allocated for the critically ill primary care unit. The estimated cost of the construction was close to Rs. 200 million and the technical and manpower contribution of the Air Force enabled the project to be completed at a cost of about Rs. 35 million, thus helping the Government save Rs.165 million. The project is being funded by the World Bank Project COVID-19 Response and Hospital System Preparation Project and by the Health Ministry.

Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena, Director of Mulleriyawa Base Hospital Dr. Priyantha Karunaratne, Director of Civil Engineering Services of the Air Force and a number of Air Force personnel and health staff were present on the occasion.