The “Brighter Life” Foundation in Switzerland (BLFS) came forward to donate some of the most urgently needed medical equipment to save the newborn lives of children at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the De Soysa Hospital for Women (DSHW), in Colombo.
This incidentally is the first time since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic that a European Union based organization came to assist in a CSR of this nature.
President of Brighter Life Foundation, Rudolf Albert Gauhl, said that the total value of this medical equipment, Resuci Flow, (the first-aid ventilator for infants) costs nearly Rs. 4 million and some of them are being used in a Sri Lankan government children’s ICU for the first time.
He said that many corporate and entrepreneurs based in Switzerland came forward to assist towards this initiative. Gauhl said that they would keep on funding BLFS and would engage in other CSR activities as well in the future. Consultant, Neonatologist, NICU Dr Nalin Gamaathige who received this donation from President, BLFS, Rudolf Albert Gauhl said that Sri Lanka can be proud of the fact that De Soysa Children’s hospital was the first dedicated Child Care hospital in Asia and today child mortality rate in Sri Lanka is on par with other developed nations like the USA, the UK which is around 5 for every 1,000 babies while in neighbouring countries its around 40.
The hospital also created world history when doctors at the hospital performed emergency surgery to save a 25-year-old pregnant COVID-19 positive patient, delivering quadruplets. “The mother and her four babies after treatment are now safely in their home.”
“The success for all these is that the government has heavily invested for education, equipment and medicines in the health care segment and the dedication of doctors, nurses and support staff.”
He however said that with priority give to COVID-19 eradication the hospital needs some urgent life-saving equipment and appealed to the private sector to come forward to provide them. “In this regard, we must extend our sincere gratitude to “Brighter Life” Foundation in Switzerland (BLFS), for donating a life saving first-aid ventilator for infants towards the care of Low birth weight (LBW) babies who need intensive care treatment and supporting a national cause.”
Resuci Flow a first-aid ventilator for infants where the baby’s lung is safely ventilated and optimally oxygenated by the built-in oxygen mixer and has been locally marketed and serviced.
BOI Executive Director Special Projects Vidharshan Fernando whose family was involved in donating land for De Soya Hospital said that the equipment would help save the lives of LBW babies.
BLFS member Hiu Dias Bandaranayake said that in addition to this they have been engaged in many CSR projects especially towards differently able youth empowerment, providing scholarships and other activities. She said that currently, the BLFS is involved in developing the mental skills of the partially abled children and also maintains and funds two centres in Tangalle and Kandy. Some of them have gained employment, while some are self-employed.
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