Sri Lanka was one of the countries most affected by the Tsunami tragedy (more than 40.000 people died) and serious problems continue, mainly at the level of public health. The severe damage to health infrastructures is one of the leading problems today. Jaffna, one of the most affected regions, situated in the north of the country, continues to be neglected by international NGO’s and the government, due to the existing bad relationship with the Tamil.

In partnership with ASFP, Doctors of the World - Portugal (MDMP) intended to build a Centre of Primary Health Care in Jaffna. Along with the Health’s Centre, the MDMP will also expand their work through beneficial repairing at the Point Peter’s Hospital, renewal of the dental clinic and the construction of a blood bank. The ASF involvement consisted of allocating a suitable technician in the scope of construction management and technology. During a site visit, 2 ASFP technicians carried out a cautious and thorough survey in order to ensure the effectiveness and sustainability of the program.

The team assessed the following issues: social and technological context of the country and province of Jaffna, possible favourable locations for the health centre to be built and hospital units organization in order to rehabilitate those in most need.

This project is the outcome of the visit realized by two ASFP technicians to Sri Lanka between the 23rd of November and the 8th of December in the scope of a partnership with the Doctors of the World - Portugal. The involved projects of the Doctors of the World - Portugal in Sri Lanka originated in the context of human relief after the 2004 Tsunami. The partnership between ASFP - MDMP intervened in the northern province of Jaffna and its main objective was the sanitization of two units of Point Peter’s Hospital.

The hospital is in need of critical maintenance work in several areas. Moreover, specific types of surgeries are not possible to carry out because of the inexistence of a blood bank. For example: in order to accomplish a simple appendicitis operation, the patients have to make a trip of one hour until the hospital of Jaffna. MDMP – ASFP will install a blood bank in one of the exterior blocks, in a small building that currently serves as warehouse. Also the redevelopment of the spaces intended for the Dental Clinic is planned. Currently, the Dental Clinic is placed inside of the hospital’s main building and is divided in three compartments.

The new project proposes to establish a connection between those three compartments: two of them will be designed as the operating room of the two dentists; the remaining compartment will serve as an in-between area subdivided into two autonomous spaces. These two compartments combined will work as a supporting area for cleansing and sterilization, and will also comprise of a secretary space.