US Ambassador inaugurates BRAVA mission in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 April 2004, 09:05 GMT]
Mr.Jeffry J.Lunstead, US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, wednesday inaugurated the US military humanitarian medical mission in Jaffna teaching hospital. " We are able to visit Jaffna because of peace in this country. US government will continue to support the peace process in Sri Lanka," Mr.Jeffry Lunstead said at the inaugural event held on wednesday morning.

The Medical Superintendent of the Jaffna teaching hospital Dr.S.Sathurmugam presided over the event.

Mr. Lunstead further said," the work of the BRAVA team is emblematic of the friendship between the peoples of Sri Lanka and America. By sharing their expertise and experience in humanitarian assistance BRAVA mission personnel are providing life-changing medical to many people in Jaffna".

A team of 20 US military medical specialists is conducting a humanitarian surgical training mission known as Blast, Resuscitation and Victim Assistance (BRAVA). American medical personnel from the US Air Force, Army and Navy are working with Sri Lankan physicians at the Jaffna teaching hospital to provide surgery and medical care for patients suffering from injuries and trauma by unexploded ordnance, including land mines, said the press release of the US Embassy in Colombo.

The team of medical personnel included orthopedic, pediatric and plastic surgery specialists from Korea and Hawaii. In addition to providing care to patients suffering from landmine injuries the team is also treating accident victims and patients with birth defects. The medical specialists hope to perform several major operations a day on patients selected by the BRAVA team. The program, which begins early this week, will include medical education and hands on training and care for hospital patients, the press release added.

In addition several pallets of medical supplies have been donated to the Jaffna teaching hospital for the humanitarian medical mission, said the press release.