16.11.2008
The
new Nurses Training School in Ampara constructed by the
Red Cross was handed over in last week.
This
full fledged training college for nurses in the Ampara
Hospital compound is one of the 77 health infrastructure
development projects initiated by the Sri Lanka Red Cross
Society with the collaboration with the Ministry of Health
under the tsunami recovery programme. This project was
funded by the Norwegian Red Cross and Danish Red Cross
Societies.
This
impressive 3-storey building complex is now the largest
training school for nurses in Sri Lanka consisting of
an academic block with classrooms, an auditorium that
seats 300, a separate administration block, a canteen
and recreation area as well as 3 accommodation blocks
which house 300 nurses and 2 accommodation blocks for
single and married teaching staff.
The
benefits of a training college in a district that has gone
through conflict and the worst natural disaster Sri Lanka
has ever experienced are evident. The increase in qualified
nursing staff will address the substantial shortage of nurses
faced not only in the district, but island wide as specialized
training is vital for improving healthcare amongst the rural
communities living in the area and this training centre
will enable the nurses, once qualified, to work anywhere
in Sri Lanka.
Minister
of Plan Implementation P Dayarathne was the chief guest.
Addressing
the opening ceremony via satellite Minister of Health
Protection and Nutrition Promotion Nimal Siripala de Silva
expressing his gratitude to the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society
and Danish Red Cross and Norwegian Red Cross said that
the programmes of Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
in Sri Lanka has great impact on improving health infrastructure
and development of human resources in the health sector.
Courtesy - Asian
Tribune