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Philippines + 1 more

Medical Mission to Philippines

A team of Sri Lankan medical specialists including doctors and nurses left for Philippines yesterday to provide medical assistance and other relief to the victims of the recent typhoon Haiyan which destroyed vast areas of the Philippines and killed over 5,000 people and left 1,700 people missing.

This mercy mission has been undertaken on an initiative taken by President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the team met the President at Temple Trees yesterday before their departure. Minister of Health Maithripala Sirisena and Secretary to the Ministry of Health Dr. Nihal Jayatilleke were also present when the team met the President.

Meanwhile, a UN report points out that the massive destruction of healthcare facilities, with disruption to access and delivery as well as protracted displacement caused by Typhoon Haiyan will further undermine precarious maternal health provisions in the Philippines. (niz)