The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Japan in connection with Sri Lankan expatriates living in Japan donated over $225,000 worth of Covid related emergency equipment to 14 government hospitals. Many philanthropists came forward due to a special program introduced by, the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Japan Sanjiv Gunasekara. This model allowed donors to choose their preferred medical equipment directly from authorized Sri Lankan suppliers and donate to a hospital of their choice. Appreciating the transparency adopted the philanthropists offered their contribution without hesitation.
Four of the active Sri Lankan Associations in Japan; the Sri Lanka Business Council of Japan, Sri Lanka Automobile Association in Japan, Kansai Japan Sri Lanka National Organisation and the Sri Lanka Professional Association mobilized their members and helped in this worthy cause.
With the rapid proliferation of new corona strains there has been a greater tendency for patients to succumb than ever before due to the inadequacy of medical equipment to provide immediate treatment to hospitalized patients. Ambassador Gunasekara met with the business community at his residence and through a detailed power point presentation followed by one-to-one question and answer session explained how this could be an opportunity for the “successful”to save lives.
Information on eight essential equipment such as HFNO Machines, BMC Machines, BI PAPS Machines, Ventilators,Oxygen Regulators, NRBM Machines, Multi Para Monitors, Syringe Pumps which are essential to save patients’lives were provided. The contact details of the relevant Hospital Directors, Suppliers of the above Equipment and the Information of the relevant Sri Lankan agents were handed over to the donors. Further, the monies were asked to be credited directly to the vendors after the commitments were matched with needed equipment and hospitals.
The Embassy of Sri Lanka coordinated all the logistics of placing orders, delivery schedules, including coordinating respective family members of donors witnessing the gifting of equipment to the respective hospitals. The entire project was fully transparent and donors had full access to all information. It is also worth to mention that the equipment was made available to the respective hospitals on an urgent priority basis which made it possible to complete the entire project in 3 weeks.
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Tokyo
06 July, 2021
