Emergency Medical Equipment Donated to Palugamam Divisional Hospital in Batticaloa

Vanni Hope is proud to announce the successful completion of a critical health enhancement project—strengthening the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) at Palugamam Divisional Hospital in the Batticaloa District. This initiative, generously sponsored by Mr. Aynkaran Sivaratnam from Melbourne, Australia, was implemented to address urgent gaps in emergency care for the rural communities served by this hospital.

Strengthening Rural Emergency Care

During a recent site visit by our Chairman, Mr. Ranjan Sivagnanasundaram, and Director/Secretary, Dr. Malathi Waran, it became clear that the ETU at Palugamam Hospital, though staffed with three doctors and supported by an ambulance, was severely under-resourced. The facility lacked several essential medical tools needed to stabilise and manage emergency cases, with the nearest referral centre, Kalawanchikudy Base Hospital, located a significant distance away.

To address this, Vanni Hope funded the procurement and delivery of critical medical equipment, including:

• 2 Pulse Oximeters
• 1 ECG Machine
• 1 Nebuliser
• 1 Spinal Board
• 1 Wheelchair
• 1 Suture Set
• Elastoplast for wound care

These tools will directly improve the hospital’s capacity to triage, stabilise, and treat patients suffering from trauma, cardiac conditions, and other medical emergencies.

Lasting Community Impact

Over 6,000 patients stand to benefit annually from this intervention. By equipping the ETU with appropriate and modern tools, we are:

• Enhancing local trauma and emergency response
• Reducing unnecessary patient transfers to distant hospitals
• Improving trust in rural public healthcare
• Supporting timely, potentially life-saving care at the community level

Vanni Hope’s commitment doesn’t stop with the donation. We will continue to monitor the impact of this equipment through follow-up reporting and engagement with the local medical team.

Gratitude and Forward Steps

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Mr. Aynkaran Sivaratnam for making this possible. His support has enabled us to address a vital gap in the rural healthcare system, empowering frontline medical staff to deliver better care when every second counts.

Watch the full video coverage below