Essential Medicines for Kids in Sri Lanka

The crisis in Sri Lanka is at a highly critical juncture. We are witnessing the worst downturn in the country’s recent history. The country has run out of dollars to buy vital imports sending shockwaves across all spheres of daily life. With months of regular blackouts and acute shortages of food and fuel, any relief for the people of our country remains a distant dream.

What worse could happen when the hospitals have run out of life-saving medicines? The entire health sector is on the brink of a collapse. Consultant paediatricians at Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children (LRH) say that the LRH is hard hit with supply shortages of drugs and medical equipment, including endotracheal tubes that help babies breathe. They have started reusing single-patient nebuliser kits by washing them instead of discarding them despite the high risk of Covid-19 infection.

Brave doctors and healthcare workers are appealing donors to help secure 70 vital medicines and medical equipment, including anaesthetics that are in short supply. As Sri Lankans living in Melbourne, we can help if we chip in just a bit. No matter where we live, we are all connected as Sri Lankans, and while one suffers, we all suffer.

We have identified vendors in Colombo who can import drugs and medical equipment for LRH if the payments can be made in dollars. We may not be able to fix the problem, but every little help will go towards saving a life of an innocent child of our country.

To raise money for this noble effort, we will be organising a Vesak Dansala on the 14th of May at Timbara Community Hall, Timbara Way, Berwick VIC 3806. Come, have a free meal, and make a donation. If you choose to support us, we will ensure that 100% of your donation is to purchase a range of medical equipment and medicines for LRH.