Rotary donates critical care equipment to ETU

In yet another significant medical initiative, Rotary has handed over critical care equipment to the value of Rs.35 million for the expanded Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) of the National Hospital of Sri Lanka. This project was undertaken by the Rotary Club of Colombo West in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Hamamatsu South, Japan together with Rotary Districts 3220 and 2620 along with a grant from the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. The new equipment would almost double the patient handling capacity.

The newly-equipped ETU was formally opened on the 24th of January 2024 by the Rotary International President 2023-24, Gordon R. Mclnally along with senior officials of the Ministry of Health, including the Secretary and the Director General, as well as members of the Rotary organization including the District Governors from Japan – District 2620 and Sri Lanka – District 3220 and the Presidents of the Rotary Club of Hamamatsu South, Japan and the Rotary Club of Colombo West.

The ETU was previously an 8-bed facility in an area of 400 square feet serving patients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It provided emergency care only to around 100 critically ill patients per day. As many as 50-75 patients who required immediate care were deprived of the unit’s facilities because of the lack of resources – space, beds, and equipment. Due to the limited number of beds to accommodate more patients and prevent overcrowding, the ETU was compelled to expedite the emergency care given to critically ill patients with quick transfers to wards. This resulted in less than optimum care for the patients needing more careful and meticulous attention.

The provision of larger and well-equipped facilities had therefore been a top priority, and the necessary infrastructure issue was resolved when the unit moved into the recently constructed OPD building at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka. This new wing was donated by China-Aid of the Peoples’ Republic of China to cater to the high demand for medical treatment and to upgrade public sector healthcare infrastructure. In recognition of this move, Rotary took the initiative to provide the equipment needed for the expansion.

The new equipment and fresh safety protocols introduced will help in scaling up the operations of this unit to be identified as Emergency Department (ED), a concept followed in developed countries, where all acutely ill patients will be channelled through the ED first and assessed in short time windows prior to transfer to a relevant facility.