"Can't open govt. hospital in Mutur"

[TamilNet, Sunday, 23 January 2000, 13:21 GMT]
The Northeast Health Ministry said that it is not in a position to reopen the renovated government hospital at Eechchilampattu division in Mutur as it is in Tiger controlled area.

If government hospitals in the Tiger controlled Wanni region are allowed to function why is a different rule adopted in Mutur area, asked Mr. S. Gunanayagam, former Chairman of Kaddaiparichchan Village Council in Mutur area in a letter to the Minister of Health.

The government hospital at Eechchilampattu was badly damaged during the violence in 1990. The renovation work on this hospital was completed six months ago. Since then people of the area have been agitating the authorities concerned to reopen the hospital. But the provincial health authorities have now informed that they are not in a position to reopen the hospital as it is in the Tiger controlled area.

Earlier this hospital was serving the people in 19 villages in the Eechchilampattu Division. 99 percent of the villagers are below poverty line. Now they are forced to travel by foot or carts for about 5 miles to the nearest hospital.