Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, today is the 17th Death Anniversary of the late Member of this House, Mamanithar Sivanesan, killed by the military in a claymore attack. I pay my respects.

¶ 02 As we discuss Health and Mass Media, I also note the passing of two icons of the Tamil media: Mr. S.P. Samy, founding proprietor of “Thinakkural,” and Mr. Bharathi Rasanayagam, former Sunday Editor of “Thinakkural” and later Editor of the Jaffna “Virakesari” edition. I pay my respects to both.

¶ 03 Regarding Jaffna Teaching Hospital: its Director tabled at the DCC a comprehensive letter seeking a cadre review and approvals, infrastructure development, and specifically: - a new maternity unit, - dedicated cardiology and cardiothoracic units, - a special unit for advanced treatments, - infrastructure for over 30 clinics.

¶ 04 The maternity unit must be prioritised. The old unit was demolished in 2012 as dilapidated; since then, 16 wards operate in the space of four. Mothers sleep on the floor; after C-sections they walk nearly 20 minutes to the postnatal ICU to feed babies. This is unacceptable. Please act immediately.

¶ 05 On land: Jaffna Teaching Hospital is to be the fourth national hospital. Land on Meenachi Amman Road belonging to the hospital is still occupied by the security forces; it should be returned. Land of the Building Materials Corporation on Clock Tower Road is also requested. Please look into these.

¶ 06 On Tellippalai Trail Cancer Hospital: though staffed under Jaffna Teaching Hospital, it is located at Tellippalai Base Hospital, creating administrative dichotomy. Doctors recommend: - a separate director and accountant for cancer services, - a separate matron and overseer, - all staff under a single administration, - a separate, dedicated allocation for cancer services. They also request a CT scanner; a cancer hospital without a CT scanner cannot function properly. Please address this.

¶ 07 On dispensers: there are serious shortages. You initiated training; that is welcome. However, globally dispensers are being phased out. Pharmacists say about 1,000 qualified pharmacists are currently unemployed. Their request to replace the dispensers’ cadre with pharmacists is reasonable, and dispensers are willing to be absorbed. At lower levels, only dispenser positions exist; please consider converting to pharmacists.

¶ 08 I will hand over notes on other Northern Province issues. Thank you.