In Sri Lanka, New Trauma and Emergency Medical Response Project

The devastating Tsunami which hit South East Asia left thousands dead and many more displaced. Within days of the Tsunami, JDC began its relief and rehabilitation assistance to four countries affected by the Tsunami; Sri Lanka, India, Thailand and Indonesia.

For the past two year JDC has been working in Sri Lanka helping Tsunami affected victims through a variety of immediate and long term rehabilitation programs; provision of household goods, school equipment for children, community building by the construction of community centers, livelihood projects, construction of playgrounds for children across the island, women empowerment, and projects in the health sector.

In Sri Lanka, JDC works with local partners in order to empower and strengthen their outreach to the people by provision of needed services and relief, and through whom JDC can assure it reaches to the affected people in the quickest and most affective manner.

JDC has entered a partnership with Israeli Development Agency (MASHAV) and Sri Lankan Ministry of Health for the development of a trauma and emergency response system in the Sri Lankan health sector.

The project aims at providing assistance to the Sri Lankan Health Ministry by setting a pilot project in the Gall District which would include pre-hospital and immediate hospital care to medical emergencies and mass casualty events. The system will allow ambulances to respond to emergencies in the field and transport the sick and wounded to the relevant hospitals. In addition, through the project assistance will be given to hospitals in the development of their own emergency protocols to multi casualty incidents.

Furthermore, MASHAV and JDC are donating six ambulances which are on the list of funding needs requested by the Ministry for the Tsunami affected areas. Three of the ambulances will be stationed in the Galle District and will be of great assistance to the direct development of the Trauma and Emergency Response Pilot Project.

JDC and MASHAV donated six ambulances for the Tsunami affected areas in Sri Lanka

March 2007