Medical Teams Sent To Sri Lanka

Dr Chan Kok Yew, a volunteer treating a survivor in Ampara, Sri Lanka.

7 January 2005 -- TOUCH Community Services International (TCSI) sent out the first medical team to Ampara District, Sri Lanka. Ampara is one of the worst hit area, about 58,600 families were affected by the tsunami. 10,436 lives were claimed, 6,711 were injured while there are more than a hundred still missing. More than 25,000 households were destroyed.

"It was past midnight when we arrived in Kalmunai. There were no street lights at all. We saw the extent of the destruction only with daybreak. The sight reminded me of the pictures I saw in some of the World War II documentaries." - Shawn Lim, Leader of the Volunteer Team

Throughout the relief work, a pervasive stench of death and decay greeted the team as they made their way among the ruins and debris to reach the victims. 

Local volunteers helping this Sri Lanka woman to the TCSI mobile treatment center. Her leg was badly cut by debris.

The first team saw an average of 250 injured and sick refugees daily. The mobile clinics were not the best environment to treat the victims but the team improvised as best as they could. They were swamped with hundreds of casualties everyday. The entire work was one filled with challenges and demands. Women and children were the most badly affected. 

"Seeing the pain and sufferings of these people, I just wished that more doctors and nurses could be here to help out,” said Dr Sheldon Lee.

Everyday, the team would return to their rooms physically exhausted from helping the victims. However their spirits remained high despite their weariness. What kept them going was the gratitude shown by the victims after each treatment and knowing that they have made a difference in the lives of the Sri Lankans. 

Popping a deworming pill into the mouth of a child with intestinal worm infection.

The first team is expected to remain in Sri Lanka for two weeks before the next team arrives to take over. TCSI will be sending more medical teams to these areas as long as the needs are there.  Once this phase of providing medical aid is over,  TCSI will look into mid-and long-term development  to help rebuild and restore the lives of these victims.

Stitching up a cut under demanding conditions / Team I / Giving the best medical care that we could.