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Establishing NICU at Jaffna Hospital

Each year the Jaffna Teaching Hospital in Sri Lanka records about 10,000 deliveries, and in the recent past the number has increased tremendously due to free movement of people from Vanni and other areas. Out of these deliveries, about 20% of the babies need some medical attention after birth. These babies are currently admitted to the Special Care Baby Unit at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital. The main problems at the Special Care Baby Unit at present are all related to overcrowding and lack of space. During the year 2010 there were a total of 1,311 babies admitted to the baby unit and 55% of the babies were preterm. More than half of these preterm babies had surfactant deficient respiratory distress. The Jaffna Teaching Hospital does not have surfactant, nor are there facilities to ventilate babies in the baby unit.

Considering the deaths during the neonatal period, 105 babies died in 2010 mainly due to lack of neonatal intensive care. The deaths were particularly high due to sepsis, especially when the total number of babies was high. This also reflects the lack of space and increased risk of cross infection. The babies who need ventilation are admitted to the Adult Intensive Care Unit. In the year 2010 there were about 30 babies admitted to the ICU from the Special Care Baby Unit, and 50% of the babies died due to lack of neonatal intensive care.

With the advancement of medical sciences in much of the world, Northern Sri Lanka is lagging behind. There is a clear need to improve the neonatal services in Jaffna by establishing a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Lack of space, proper facilities, equipment, and trained doctors and nurses are the main challenges, which IMHO Canada seeks to address with this major project. This new initiative will consist of three necessary phases, each costing roughly $70,000--1) the renovation and addition of building space to house the NICU, 2) the provisioning of vital medical equipment needed to meet the high demand and provide a higher quality of care, and 3) further equipment provisions.

You can view the presentation given by Dr. Gita Sathiadas (who is leading this effort) at our 8th Semi-Annual Meeting in Baltimore last weekend, which highlights the current state of pediatric care in the Northern Province and the need for developing a NICU at the hospital, by clicking here: "Pediatric Services and Need for NICU at Jaffna Hospital"

You can also watch a 22-minute documentary film about this project and the need for it by clicking here:

Efforts

Working with children and improving the quality of life for those young people who are ill, malnourished, or otherwise struggling, is something that is quite touching and motivating to both the IMHO Canada team and our supporters. IMHO Canada is proud to make a commitment towards establishing a much needed Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to serve the Northern Province of Sri Lanka and is actively working towards this goal. We anticipate similar pediatric efforts to follow in the months and years to come as we strive to improve the lives and well being of children.

Photos