Click on the images
 to enlarge them.

Bentota Hospital

The Minor Surgery Room

Sarah's Apeal
I am a Staff nurse at Tetbury Hospital and having returned from a wonderful holiday in Bentota (Southern Sri Lanka) in November we were horrified to see the effect of the Tsunami. My colleagues having been bored to tears with my holiday snaps and tales of our adventures suggested they would support me in any fund raising I could do to help.

We decided to raise money specifically for the Bentota Hospital.

The Hospital has 62 patients and a minor injury unit that sees about 50 patients a day. The conditions at the hospital are horrendous!! with even the most basic equipment broken and rusting away. The Well which they used to drink from is full of Sea water and the pump broken, so this has to be a priority.
 

It will take only £1000 sterling to sort out the electrics, replace the pump, ceiling fans and lights, all essentials as its 35 degrees centigrade and dark 12 hours a day. Labour costs are very low and so much can be achieved with so little.

The Electrics

After many phone calls to Sri Lanka, Embassies and travel companies I got the name (through several sources) of the chap to talk to.

I at last made contact and set up my email account (quite an achievement for a technophobe such as myself ! ) We started off with a sponsored slim which has raised nearly £1000 then on 12.3.05 held a coffee morning and fete and raised £1,107. Sir William Romney School heard about our efforts and have raised over £1000 and Malmesbury school are taking it on board as we speak. As I feel so passionately about this I mentioned in passing to my Boss "I wish I could go out in person to present equipment and the money we have raised" she said I'll come with you! so a plan was hatched. I then thought what if we go during my daughter Rosies work experience week and work in Bentota Hospital. Her response was WOW!! So we have booked to go out on 21.5.05 for 9 nights. My contact Ranjan Fonseka will take us into Colombo to purchase equipment (so we help support the local economy, and electricity is different) we will then present it to the Hospital- with local people and press invited!! and work there for a few days.  Obviously we are paying our own fares and expenses.

  CAN ANYONE HELP US WITH FUND RAISING?

Perhaps run an event or something and any donations would be so much appreciated.

Please contact me on 01666837997 if you feel you can help in any way. I feel if we can offer a hand of friendship to this community it will be wonderful. I will take loads of pictures of our trip so  that I can  keep you all informed about the difference you will have tell you all about it when we return. I have got some photos of the present conditions but cant work out how to email them successfully I will print off a set so if anyone wants to see them they can ring me and pop round. Hope this gives you enough info.

Best Wishes
Sarah Bolton

The Male Ward

Lighting for Baby Delivery  Bed

Minor Injury Treatment Room
 

Medical storage Refrigerator

The Staff

Report on working visit to Bentota Hospital, May 2005