The Pakistan government has donated a fully equipped, modern Intensive Care Unit (ICU) to the Zia Hospital, Akurana in Sri Lanka. The ICU was formally inaugurated by the Pakistan High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Bashir Wali Muhammad on July 15, 2006.
The project is a part of the government of Pakistan's continuing efforts to provide assistance to the brotherly people of Sri Lanka in the health, education and social sector projects. The construction of the ICU Block in the Zia Hospital in Sri Lanka and the provision of the most modern equipment in the unit were the latest initiative, in this connection. The construction and establishment of the ICU has cost SL Rs 15 million. With the addition of a full fledge ICU, the Zia Hospital is now well equipped to handle most emergency patients.
Earlier, such patients in Akurana had to be rushed to main hospital in Kandy for treatment and now the ICU of Zia Hospital is working with the state-of-the-art facilities such as ventilators, defibrillator monitoring machines and all other necessary equipment to handle any kind of emergency patients by providing intensive care.
Addressing the ceremony, the Pakistan High Commissioner Bashir Wali Muhammad said Sri Lanka is a very good friend of Pakistan and always helped us whenever we need it so Pakistan will always stand with Sri Lanka in support. "Now our economy is growing rapidly and we are in a position to divert more resources to the social sector development", he said and added "It is the aim of our government that basic amenities like education, health and others should be available to all people so Pakistan is not only working for the provision of these facilities to its own people but also share its resources with friendly countries like Sri Lanka".