AUSLMAT “HEAL OUR NATION” PROJECT SUMMARY
In response to many requests received from medical specialists and the Ministry of Health, AUSLMAT initiated the Heal Our Nation project in April 2022 to raise funds for essential medical supplies for the public hospital system in Sri Lanka. With immense community enthusiasm and support, we have raised over AUD 237, 270 (over LKR 60 million) so far, from which we have purchased medicines and medical supplies worth 185, 301 (over LKR 46 million).
In addition, we have facilitated the purchase of over AUD 150,000 medical supplies for other fundraising organizations and individuals in partnership with the global consortium of donors, #MedicalHelpSriLanka. We have collaborated with other fund raising charities in Melbourne including “Suwayata Sawiyak” group in Melbourne to procure medicinal items for the Paediatric Liver Transplant Unit at North Colombo (Ragama) Teaching Hospital and Lady Ridgeway, “Ride for Apeksha” group to procure essential cancer medicines for Apeksha Hospital and other donor groups in purchasing medicines. We have facilitated to purchase of AUD 64,000 worth Streptokinase for a private donor.
| AUD 237, 270 raised directly by AUSLMAT and purchased items > AUD 185, 301* | Assisted other donors with purchases > AUD 150, 000 | Transported and distributed donated medical equipment > AUD 100, 000 to hospitals |
|---|
*NB: 100% of our donations are spent on the purchase of medicines and medical supplies, without any administrative /overhead costs.
| Item Purchased | Quantity | Cost (AUD) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Fisher and Paykel RT 265 breathing tubes donated to 7 NICU units |
140 |
$ 9 870.00 |
||
|
Fisher and Paykel Neowraps donated to 7 NICU units |
260 |
$ 964.00 |
||
|
Phosphate phebra tablets donated to 7 NICU units |
5000 |
$ 3 384.00 |
||
|
Fresenius Kabi triple blood bags * |
1540 |
$ 14 638.00 |
||
|
Cefotaxime vials to Dehiattakandiya hospital |
1000 vials |
$ 7 424.00 |
||
|
Valproate tab 200mg to Dehiattakandiya hospital |
36 000 tabs |
|||
|
Ceftriaxone vials for A’pura hospital |
1000 vials |
|||
|
Ceftriaxone vials for various hospitals |
10 000 vials |
$ 3 515.66 |
||
|
Vygon central lines for NICU Units * |
100 |
$ 11 437.17 |
||
|
Fisher and Paykel pediatric NIV masks for
Sirimavo Hospital in Peradeniya and LRH |
|
$ 1 880.00 |
||
|
Blood glucose / ketone strips ** |
1000 |
$ 959.80 |
||
|
Pediatric Suction catheters and IDC’s for
Sirimavo Childrens’ Hospital and LRH |
|
$ 284.00 |
||
|
Pediatric laryngeal masks for Peradeniya TH |
100 |
$ 1 295.00 |
||
|
Blood pressure machines |
|
$ 335.90 |
||
|
Dental equipment for De’attakandiya hospital |
|
$ 1 935.79 |
||
|
Metronidazole, Erythropoietin and Sodium
Valproate for many hospitals ** |
|
$ 41 360.00 |
||
|
Nitric Oxide cylinders for NICU units and LRH Cardiac Surgery Unit |
5 |
$ 16 347.98 |
||
|
Nestle Isocal and Sustacal nutritional
supplements for D’attakandiya hospital |
|
$ 6 535.52 |
||
|
CAPD bags from Lucenxia, Malaysia |
6600 |
$ 30 127.82 |
||
|
Cotton wool and Gauze for Eye Hospital /
Karapitiya Hospital and LRH |
|
$ 1 367.00 |
||
|
Nestle Sustacal and Isocal supplements for
Hepatobiliary Unit, NHSL |
|
$ 7 759.86 |
||
|
Sanitary napkins for Maternity Ward,
Dehiattakandiya Hospital |
|
$ 600.00 |
||
|
Surgical sutures for Hepatobiliary Unit, NHSL |
|
$ 1 519.56 |
||
|
Piperazillin/Tazabactam for Hepatobiliary Unit, NHSL |
200 vials |
$ 769.48 |
||
|
CAPD bags from Lucenxia, Malaysia |
3400 |
$ 16 457.14 |
||
|
ABG machine reagents for LRH Post Cardiac Surgery ICU |
|
$ 4 534.75 |
||
|
TOTAL EXPENSES (so far) |
$ 185 301.43 |
|||
* These purchases were made in collaboration with #MedicalHelpSriLanka
** Medicines will be distributed to Negombo DH, Vavunia BH, Jaffna TH, Anuradhapura TH, Dehiattakandiya BH, Karapitiya TH, Chilaw DH, Karawanella BH, Kebathigollawa BH, Tissamaharama hospitals, NHSL, Sirimavo Childrens’ Hospital in Peradeniya and Methsewana Govn. Hospital
Coordination and distribution of donated equipment worth over AUD 100,000
- Medical equipment donated by hospitals in Melbourne
- Paediatric medical equipment donated by Dr. Nelu Simonz
- Cardiac catheter equipment worth AUD 20,000 donated by Medtronic Australia
Pending purchases (currently in the process of obtaining quotes / NMRA approval / transport from India):
We are currently raising funds for the following projects, and any assistance with donations will be mostly appreciated.
1) Battery system for the Cardiac Catheterization Lab at Sirimavo Children’s Hospital, Peradeniya-
The Cath lab at Sirimavo Children’s Hospital has ceased to function a couple of months ago due to the failure of the battery system. As reported by the Cardiology Unit there, this is blowing up patient waiting lists and putting the lives of paediatric patients at risk. The cost of battery replacement is LKR 3,477,452.80 (AUD 13,852).
2) Peadiatric equipment for Lady Ridgeway Post Cardiac Surgery ICU: USD 3651.37
3) Heparin x2070 (25,000unit) vials for Heamodialysis Units across SL: USD 5796
4) Peadiatric Oncology Medicine for Apeksha Hospital : USD 1843
5) Baby Intensive Care Unit requirements for Dehiattakandiya Hospital:
DAK hospital has a large Maternity Unit, however they do not have a facility at present to medically stabilize babies who are born unwell and transport them to a major Peadiatric Centre, which is leading to the loss of lives of newly born babies. AUSLMAT is planning to contribute to this project, which is estimated to cost around LKR 30 million in total.
AUSLMAT Sri Lanka Aid Mission Report 2022
After a long absence owing to the 2019 Easter Bombings and the COVID-19 pandemic, members of the AUSLMAT team were overjoyed to return on a medical mission to Sri Lanka from 16-30 August, 2022. Lead by AUSLMAT President Dr Erosha Premaratne and Vice-President A/Prof Andrew Cochrane, the team of 10 included doctors, a nurse and volunteers.
Over the course of the trip, the team visited 7 hospitals in predominantly regional areas of Sri Lanka; District Hospital (DH) Negombo, Teaching Hospital (TH) Anuradhapura, TH Jaffna, DH Dehiattakandiya, Sirimavo Bandaranaike Specialised Children’s Hospital (Peradeniya), TH Karapitiya (Galle) and Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital (Colombo).
Throughout the trip, the AUSLMAT team was able to distribute much needed medical supplies to various hospitals, including sutures and surgical supplies for the liver transplantation unit at Colombo North TH Ragama, diabetes testing equipment, gauze and cotton wool to Negombo DH, pediatric supplies and anaesthetic airway equipment to SBSCH Peradeniya and diabetes testing equipment to TH Anuradhapura. We donated dental supplies, diabetes testing equipment, cotton and gauze to DH Dehiattakandiya. A supply of coronary angioplasty stent and balloon catheters generously donated by Medtronic Australia was gifted to the Cardiology Unit at TH Karapitiya, in addition to Isocal nutritional supplements, diabetes testing equipment, gauze and cotton wool. A supply of cotton wool and gauze were also sent to the Eye and Ear Hospital in Colombo. In addition to these items, AUSLMAT has so far sent AUD 164,000 medicines and medical equipment to public hospitals in Sri Lanka since the beginning of the financial crisis in May 2022.
The team were able to review the implementation and operation of equipment previously donated and, and it was great to see this equipment being put to valuable use. This included Phillips G30 Cardiac Monitoring systems donated to TH Anuradhapura, and High Dependency Unit facilities installed at DH Dehiattakandiya during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Community health clinics were conducted at Dehiattakandiya and Tissamaharama, where members of the medical team were able to provide endocrinology, obstetric medicine, cardiology and general medical consulting to the community members. At Tissamaharama, the AUSLMAT team met the grateful families of school children who had been supported with books and school equipment as part of the Keep Kids in School (KKS) sponsorship program.
The AUSLMAT team engaged in education sessions with medical and nursing staff at many of the hospitals visited. At TH Anuradhapura Emergency Department nurse Mr Bernard Robben and Emergency Doctor Dr Sayumi Jayasinghe gave an interactive teaching session on non-invasive ventilation which was well attended by nursing staff. The cardiac surgery team at Lady Ridgeway Hospital presented a series of complex congenital heart disease cases for discussion with A/Prof Andrew Cochrane. Dr Erosha Premaratne and Dr Nalin Dayawansa gave presentations on Diabetes and Heart Failure management at TH Karapitya in Galle hosted by the Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA).
AUSLMAT president Dr Erosha Premaratne made multiple appearances in Sri Lankan media promoting the work that AUSLMAT has been doing, and highlighting the importance of swift Health ministry co-operation in releasing and distributing donated equipment.
The busy hospital visits were broken up with sightseeing days including visits to the Hindu and Buddhist temples of Nainativu (Nagadeepa), the ancient rock fortress of Sigiriya, the scenic train ride from Kandy to Ella and safaries at Yala, Minneriya and Udawalawe National Parks. Our gratitude to Jetwing Ecotours for organizing out trip and for the supporting us throughout the trip.
Whilst the mission was a great success, there is always more work to be done. Amidst the ongoing economic hardship in Sri Lanka, many areas of need were identified where AUSLMAT and donors may be able to assist in the future. These include:
- Replacement batteries for Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) system for the paediatric cardiac catheterisation laboratory at SBSCH Peradeniya – AUD $18,000
- Purchase of an echocardiography machine and transoesophageal echocardiogram (TOE) probe to allow for increased cardiac surgery capacity at TH Jaffna – USD $59,000
- Construction of a new cardiac catheterisation laboratory at TH Karapitiya, Galle – AUD $600,000
- Construction of a new intensive care building at LRH, Colombo – USD 5 million.
- Construction of a new coronary care unit (CCU) at TH Anuradhapura
- Construction of new medical wards at DH Dehiattakandiya
The AUSLMAT SRI LANKA COVID ASSISTANCE APPEAL was initiated on the 30th of May 2021, in response to many requests received from public hospitals across Sri Lanka for medical assistance to combat the escalating COVID crisis.
With immense community enthusiasm and support, we have been able to raise a total of AUD 225,545 (Over 34 Million Sri Lankan Rupees), and distribute equipment worth over AUD 232,201 among 23 COVID treatment centres.
Read the full project report by clicking this link: Project Report
KEEP KIDS IN SCHOOL (KKS) PROJECT SUMMARY
The KKS (Keep Kids in School) project was initiated in June 2020, with the aim of providing financial assistance to a group of vulnerable children living in remote villages around Tissamaharama in Sri Lanka. The children supported by the KKS project belong to families of labourers, farmers, street vendors and daily wage earners who have been struggling to survive in the past couple of years due to financial hardships. Children in these families are sometimes forced to leave school or earn a living, the opportunity to finish their school education being stolen from them. The aim of the KKS project is to ensure that these children remain in school until they complete school up to the A/Level examination, by having some of their educational costs met by sponsorship.
The cost to sponsor one child is AUD 10/= a month and 100% of donations go towards school expenses such as books, stationary, uniforms and shoes. There are no administrative costs involved.
June 2020- Dec 2021 BUDGET SUMMARY:
|
June 2020 – December 2020 Jan 2021 – June 2021 TOTAL REVENUE |
AUD 2,180 (plus Rs. 30,000 paid in SLR) AUD 4,910 AUD 12,150 |
TOTAL EXPENDITURE AUD 9,726 ( July 2020 – Dec. 2021)
Rs. 5000/= was spent for each of the 57 students June 2020-Dec 2020.
Rs. 15,000/= was spent for each of the 90 students from Jan 2021 – Dec. 2021.
(The balance from 2020-2021 has been allocated to purchasing computers for a computer class)
We are aiming to spend 20,000 per student in 2022
NB: AUSLMAT accounts including the KKS program is externally audited by Danber Financial Services Pvt. Ltd.
Community Assistance:
In addition to the KKS program, some of the sponsors have kindly contributed to several projects, which have enabled these families to earn a living during difficult times. These include:
- Assistance to establish irrigation systems for farmers
- Establishment of an aloe vera cultivation
- Purchase of sewing machines and fabric
- Medical assistance to children with chronic illness
- Financial assistance for vocational training
- Financial assistance to single parent family without an income
Free classes in IT, Math and English
– Via Zoom, conducted by tutors (University students) from Melbourne
See our PDF format here:
AUSLMAT Achieves ATO Charitable Status
AUSLMAT, the Australia Sri Lanka Medical Aid Team, was born out of the Boxing Day Tsunami in 2004. It was incorporated in 2005, but it wasn’t till 2016 that AUSLMAT was formally registered as a charity with the ACNC (Australian Charities for Not-for-profits Commission), and subsequently included on the ATO’s Deductible Gift Register (DGR). That means that AUSLMAT can now you issue you with a tax deductible receipt for donations made, and in turn, those donations will be recognised by the ATO when you make a claim as AUSLMAT is on the ATO’s deductible gift register.
Thanks to previous Secretary Michelle and current Treasurer Gordon for leading us to this very important milestone!