Health needs remain
high even as war abates
International staff: 46
National staff: 178
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The signing of a ceasefire between the government and
the rebel Tamil Tigers in February 2002, and the scheduled
start of peace talks, have raised hopes that Sri Lanka's civil
war may finally be over. An embargo on materials being sent
to the north – including medicines – has been lifted; the
main road into the Jaffna peninsula has been reopened; and
those displaced by the war have started returning to their
homes. Nevertheless, after nearly 20 years of war, health
needs remain high and health staff are lacking. MSF continues
to provide medical assistance, with a strong focus
on people displaced by the war. It has eight projects ongoing,
principally in the north and northeast.
In Vavuniya, in addition to providing surgery facilities,
MSF helped establish protocols for the disposal of medical
and other waste. In 2001, MSF surveyed the psychosocial
problems present in camps for the internally displaced
and found very high levels of trauma. Many people had seen
acts of war or the deaths of friends and family; many had
been displaced repeatedly. MSF now provides counseling
and psycho-educational support in the camps.
In Mallavi, Point Pedro on the Jaffna peninsula and
Batticaloa, MSF surgeons work in public hospitals. Each
month, MSF teams carry out an average of 60 major surgeries
in Batticaloa, 30% of which are emergencies; 132
major surgeries in Mallavi, 65% of them emergencies; and
45 major surgeries in Point Pedro, 50% of them emergencies.
MSF also offers basic care to people in outlying
war-affected areas near these cities and towns, and monitors
the health needs of about 6,000 internally displaced
people in Jaffna.
Mother and child health care is an important part of many
MSF projects in Sri Lanka. In Puttukkudiyiruppu, MSF
trains community health staff in prenatal and well-baby clinics and emergency obstetrical and gynecological care
in the hospital. At Jaffna Teaching Hospital, each month
650 children are admitted to the pediatric ward, where two
MSF pediatricians work. In Point Pedro, three MSF doctors
provide gynecological and obstetrical care and surgery.
MSF began working in Sri Lanka in 1986.
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