World Vision Donates Four High-flow Nasal Oxygen Therapy Machines
World Vision Lanka has donated four High-flow Nasal Oxygen Therapy machines to the Division of Biomedical Engineering Services of the Ministry of Health as a part of its Covid-19 response. These machines would be distributed to the hospitals that need them by the Division of Biomedical Engineering Services, who are responsible for providing appropriate state-of-the-art medical equipment technologies for the government hospitals in the country.
The third wave of the pandemic in Sri Lanka, which has seen a stable increase in the number of Covid-19 infected people, has been putting a strain on the country's health systems and hospitals, and medical staff have been struggling with inadequate resources needed during a pandemic, especially with various variants that have higher transmissibility and a longer infectious period.
Following the request from the government to the international non-governmental organisations to help its Covid-19 response, World Vision Lanka came forward to help with the High-flow Nasal Oxygen Therapy machines that needed to treat people with Covid-19. Since most Covid-19 patients with severe symptoms are known to have a low blood oxygen saturation level (SpO2), High-flow Nasal Oxygen Therapy machines play a vital role in keeping them safe.
"Even though our pandemic response started with an awareness campaign and provision of dry rations to the vulnerable families who needed immediate help to survive amid the curfews and lockdowns," noted Dr. Dhanan Senathirajah, National Director of World Vision Lanka, "our response continued to evolve as the needs started to evolve as well. We supported our superhero health workers with PPEs and hygiene products. However, as the ICUs have reached their full capacity, we realised that we have to further support the health system. That is why we are happy to donate these High-flow Nasal Oxygen Therapy machines, which are vital to saving lives. As a responsible non-governmental organisation that has worked with governments since its establishment in Sri Lanka 44 years ago, World Vision Lanka will continue to support the government to defeat this pandemic."
These four machines, which are worth nearly Rs. 5 million, will aid the government response and help our fellow Sri Lankans to receive the best possible treatment if they're tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 and require medical assistance to recover from it.
World Vision Lanka began its first Covid-19 response in March 2020 reaching over 400,000 people. The response focused on scaling up preventive measures, strengthening the health system and workers and supporting children through protection, education and nutrition. World Vision has so far supported 259 hospitals, clinics and other health institutions with essential health equipment and disinfectant kits. Some of the rural health facilities were supported with nebulizers, ECG machines, autoclaves, inspection beds and infrared thermometers.
World Vision is a Christian, relief, development and advocacy organisation dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. World Vision works through its main sectors – education, health and nutrition, water and sanitation, economic development, and child protection – serving all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. The organisation has been in Sri Lanka since 1977 and currently serves in 30 locations in 13 districts across the country through its long-term development programmes. In 2020, World Vision Lanka directly impacted over 100,000 children and their families.