Greek floating hospital to help Trinco tsunami victims

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 February 2005, 19:44 GMT]
A Greek passenger ship converted into a floating hospital arrived in Trincomalee harbour around 9 a.m., Saturday morning with a 70 member medical team. The ship will remain in the eastern port town till 31 March, said Mr.Efstathios Lozos, Ambassador of Greece to Sri Lanka, addressing journalists on board.

Dr. Economon, chief of the humanitarian mission.

A Greek shipping firm, Majestic International Cruises Company, offered its one of its passenger vessels OCEAN MONARCH to the Government of Greece free of charge for the humanitarian mission to Sri Lanka, Ambassador Mr.Lozos said.

The ship left PIRUS Greek port city, a port in Greece about two weeks ago.

Ambassador Mr.Lozos and Deputy Provincial Director of Health in the Provincial Ministry Dr.S.Abraham and Dr (Ms) P.K.Gnanagunalan, Medical Superintendent of the Trincomalee general hospital received the medical team at the Ashraff Jetty, sources said.

Greece Ambassador to Sri Lanka Mr.Lozos

Mr.Lozos said the floating hospital will start its medical services within a week and they will collaborate with the Trincomalee general hospital.

The floating hospital comprises an operating theatre, fully equipped laboratory, X-Ray unit, Radiology Unit, and a Pathological unit. It brought 750 tonnes of medicine and an ambulance. Greece Red Cross Society sent eleven-member team to serve during the stay in Trincomalee, sources said. The medical team includes Surgeon, Gynaecologist, Psychiatrist and Paediatrician.

Mr. Economon is the Chief of the Humanitarian Mission and the head of the medical team is Dr. Manolis Anastesagis.

Dr.Mariolis Anastesagnes, head of the Greek medical team.

The Government of Greece, soon after the calamity of December 26 responded to the immediate needs of the people and the Government of Sri Lanka by dispatching military aircrafts transporting humanitarian aid. It also announced a medium term emergency development aid of 150,000 Euros. At the same Greek NGOs offered their services to the affected areas hit by the tsunami, Greece Embassy in Colombo said in a press release.

Floating hospital vessel from Greece arrives in Ashraff Jetty of Trincomalee harbour.

Greece Ambassador to Sri Lanka Mr.Lozos (L) receives Provincial Deputy Diorecvtor of Health Services Dr.Abraham and Trincomalee general Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr. Ms Koushi Gnanagunalan at the Ashraff Jetty.

Greek medical officials discussing with their counterparts in the Trincomalee general hospital on board the floating hospital.