With the economy collapsing, Sri Lanka is currently facing the worst financial crisis of the past seventy years. A lack of foreign currency has led to a shortage of fuel, food, medical supplies and other essential items.

A-PAD Bangladesh (Community Initiative Society) partnered with A-PAD Sri Lanka and donated 56 types of medicines to Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Health. A-PAD Bangladesh has extensive experience in providing medical assistance and offered cross-border assistance.  Medicines totaling approximately JPY1.12 million included those for epileptic seizures, acute infections, acute meningitis, seizures, and more. The handover ceremony to the Sri Lankan government was held on June 13, 2022 in the nation’s capital, Colombo, and attended by A-PAD Sri Lanka’s partner, Sri Lanka Disaster Management Center.

A-PAD Bangladesh staff (second from the left) handing over medicines to Mr. Palitha Wickramage of Prime Minister’s Office (third from the right)

A-PAD Bangladesh and its partner Dhaka Community Hospital Trust (DCHT) sent six representatives including two doctors. The doctors saw more than 500 patients, mostly women and children, at a temporary health clinic and prescribed needed medications. The team also distributed food packages to 200 households acutely affected by the crisis.

DCHT’s doctor seeing a patient. Consultations included routine health check-ups, blood sugar level testing, and testing for children’s blood sugar level and nutritional status.

The Government of Sri Lanka commented, “This [the assistance from A-PAD Bangladesh] strengthens the tie between the two countries.”

A-PAD continues to strengthen its unique mechanism to support each member country in response to frequent disasters and other crises in the Asia region.

A-PAD’s response was featured on the local TV news broadcast, NEWS 1st (the video clip in the beginning of this article).