Project "Trail" to ease Northern Province cancer patients

A Cancer Project called "Trail"will be implemented for the patients in the Northern Province at a total estimated cost of Rs.200 million said the Acting Minister of Media Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena at the Cabinet Press Briefing held today at the Government Information Department.

Cancer has become one of the leading causes of death in Sri Lanka as an increasing trend is seen in the country.National Cencer Institute, Maharagama is the premier cancer treatment institute in the country at present to tackle cancer patients island-wide. Teaching Hospital, Jaffna has basic cancer treatment facilities and cancer treatment is provided by two wards but has no sufficient infrastructure facilities to provide quality healthcare services to cancer patients which is in the increasing trend in the Northern Province. A separate ward for children seeking treatment for Leukaemia is a prerequisite to keep conducive and infection freee environment.

Therefore the Acting Media Minister said that it is proposed to construct a new Paediatric High Dependency Unit at Base Hospital, Tellipilai. To fulfil this urgent requirement, the Colours of Courage Trust, a charity organization has come forward to construct a Radiation Treatment Centre at Tellipilai Base Hospital and to donate medical equipment for the Paediatric High Dependency Unit at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital, the Minister further said. The total project cost will be borne by the Colours of Courage Trust.

A Memorandum of Understanding will be signed among four parties, the Ministry of Health, Provincial Health Ministry of Northern Province, National Health Development Fund and the donor - COC Trust.