Mental health unit opened in Trincomalee hospital

[TamilNet, Friday, 16 December 2005, 04:19 GMT]
The newly constructed Mental Health Unit in the Trincomalee general hospital by the Medicos Del Mundo (MDM Doctors of World, Spanish NGO) at a cost of 12 million rupees under the Tsunami Rehabilitation of Medical Institutions' Project in the northeast province was opened Wednesday. The Unit includes facilities for counseling, treatment section, and play room for the children. It also has 12 beds for male and female indoor patients, health department sources said.

Mr.L.S.C.Siriwardene, Provincial Health Ministry Secretary of the North East Province and Dr.Pep.Coll, Head of the Mission of MDM jointly declared open the new unit building.

Dr.Ms. P.K.Gnanagunalan Medical Superintendent of the Trincomalee general hospital in her welcome speech thanked the MDM for its contribution in rehabilitating the mental health unit of the institution, which is an urgent need after tsunami for providing trauma counseling to victims.

Dr.E.G.Gnanagunalan, Deputy Provincial Director of Health Services said the opening of the new mental health unit in Trincomalee general hospital is held to mark the first tsunami one-year programme in the northeast province.

Mr.L.S.C.Siriwardene, Dr.S.Kuamaravetpillai, Provincial Director of Health Services and Dr.Ganeshan, Consultant Psychiatrist of Batticaloa Teaching Hospital said the urgent need for a mental health unit is fulfilled with the opening of this facility.

Dr.T.Gadambanathan, Consultant Psychiatrist of General Hospital, Ratnapura, who is visiting once a week to look after the psycho-social needs of Trincomalee district in his vote of thanks explained the present situation regarding the mental health development after tsunami disaster in the district.