Bringing a smile to kids affected by Covid 19 - Carols By KDU medical students
A Christmas carol service named “Gloria In Excelsis Deo” was held on 17th Dec 2020 by the medical students of Kotelawela Defence University at the Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital (NFTH), where a part of their clinical training takes place.
The event was mainly focused on uplifting the spirits of the isolated patients in the Covid-19 units at NFTH, specially the children who are unable to be home for Christmas.
Prof. Namal Wijesinghe, Dean, FOM, KDU gracing the occasion amidst his extremely busy work schedules was a great strength for the students.
Many other academics including Prof. Shanthi Goonewardene were among other invited academics.
The service consisted of about twenty well known Christmas carols in all three languages, a sermon delivered by the reverend father, a bible reading, prayers and speeches.
The most awaited item of the event was the arrival of Santa Claus bearing gifts to all the children Humble donations for all the gifts (just over hundred in number in the Covid unit) were entirely by KDU medical students.
Consultant Pediatrician Professor Deepthi Samarage guided and supported the students for this worthy event which brought in a smile on the faces of affected children at NFTH Covid Unit and relieving them off their agony and by making them forget the discomforting situation they are currently facing.
Health guidelines and safety measures that are currently in place at the hospital was given priority at all times during the organization and conduct of the event.
Flood Relief Campaign Organized by FOM-KDU
Sri Lanka was hit by a severe tropical storm that caused widespread flooding and landslide. Currently over 200000 people are displaced from their homes and living in a variety of safe locations including camps, schools and temples. Majority of these displaced people are in Colombo and Gampaha districts in south west of the country.
In urban areas there are growing health concerns related to the quantity of so much standing water in highly populated areas and the destruction of water and sanitation infrastructurewhich could lead to serious public health issues.
While Sri Lanka Army, Navy, Air force have been contributing their full effort to rescue people in flood affected areas we; as the Faculty of Medicine, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University recognized our duty to shoulder the ongoing rescue campaign in Medical aspects.
Under the patronage of our Vice chancellor Rear Admiral Jagath Ranasinghe and the direct guidance of Major General ALDM Gunasekare, Major General JR Kulatunga and Professor MHJ Ariyaratne, Academic staff of FOM,KDU successfully organized a project to help victims of deadly Floods on 20nd and 21st of May 2016.It included medical clinics, distribution of dry rations and financial aids.
Following a difficult journey we could establish a medical clinic in front of the Wellampitiya Police station and a major health camp in Weheragodella Purana Viharaya, Sedawatthe .By the boats provided by Sri Lankan Navy we were able to carry out a mobile clinic and distributed medications and dry rations to their door steps.
More than 300 people have been benefited by the medical clinic and mainly Respiratory conditions, skin conditions, diarrheal diseases were encountered. In addition to that there were some cases with flood related trauma. People with chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus and Hypertension were mostly benefited by essential medications.
As medical officers and Academic staff of FOM- KDU, we are very glad to serve the country in a disastrous natural calamity by emphasizing the KDU motto “The Motherland Forever”.
