Northern Province Health Infrastructure Assessment

UNCLAS COLOMBO 000110 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INSB STATE PLEASE PASS TO USAID FOR ANE/SA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL CE PTER PHUM EAID PREF SUBJECT: Northern Province Health Infrastructure Assessment ¶1. SUMMARY. During the week of January 18-22, the embassy's Civil-Military Support Element (CMSE),together with Sri Lankan Ministry of Healthcare and Nutrition (MOH) officials and Medical Teams International (a primarily U.S. Government-funded non-governmental organization),planned and conducted a comprehensive assessment of the health infrastructure in the Northern Province. This assessment, which was funded by the U.S. Pacific Command through the Overseas Humanitarian, Disaster and Civic Aid (OHDACA) program, also included representatives from USAID, Northern Province Directors of Health Services, the World Health Organization, and a diverse group of engineers and specialists. The team visited every site identified by the Sri Lankan government as a priority area for IDP resettlement. The assessment culminated with a visit to medical facilities in Mullaitivu town, within a mile from the infamous "No Fire Zone" - site of the most brutal fighting at the end of the war. This marked the first visit by a foreign delegation to this area. END SUMMARY. FINDINGS -------------- ¶2. The visited facilities had a wide range of problems, from mine-affected sites where team members needed to remain on cleared paths to large, intact buildings with no electricity or water infrastructure in place. The team identified a number of immediate-need, minimal cost projects such as roofs for temporary classroom facilities and funding for medical equipment. Larger scale assistance will include brand-new construction of hospital wards and school buildings. All of the sites were already struggling to manage returning populations, and projected totals of returnees are expected to more than double the current returnee populations. SRI LANKAN ARMY COOPERATION -------------- ¶3. The assessment team was greeted warmly at the sites by Sri Lankan Army representatives, including Division and Brigade Commanders. Army officials were extremely supportive of the assessment and eager for any available assistance. Army soldiers are helping to rebuild communities (the team saw them working at a school) and assisting with resettlement. In one village, soldiers constructed 400 homes for returning families and the Division Commander arranged for doctors to visit the area to provide treatment when needed. Recognizing that their efforts can only go so far, the commanders pledged their full support for any humanitarian assistance projects in the near future, to include ground transportation and meals for assessment teams during site visits. NEXT STEPS FOR MOH -------------- ¶4. MOH officials and engineers are working on designs, maps and other products to support the systematic rebuilding of the health infrastructure of the Northern Province. The MOH will use the database and reports from this assessment to frame funding requests and other proposals to the international community for assistance with Sri Lanka's resettlement efforts. FOWLER