The ‘High Dependency Unit’ (HDU) has been established at the Kegalle District General Hospital for COVID-19 patients in need of oxygen therapy and intensive care. The ‘High Dependency Unit’ was opened to the public yesterday, August 5, by Plantations State Minister, Kanaka Herath.
The HDU Unit consists of 16 beds used to treat COVID-19 patients, and has been established under the theme ‘Breath for Kegalle’ (Kegalleta Husma Podak). All funds for the establishment of this unit have been borne by the donors including State Minister Herath. No Government funds have been utilized. Also, the ‘Sri Lanka Podujana Engineering Front’ provided technical assistance for the construction of this unit.
Steps have been taken to import state-of-the-art medical equipment for oxygen therapy and other treatment at a cost of over Rs. 10 million with funds from donors.
State Minister Herath said that the HDU unit at the Kegalle General Hospital was set up to treat the increasing number of COVID-19 patients, as well as the number of patients who need oxygen treatment.
Although Corona treatment centres have been opened in several hospitals in the district, the State Minister said that this unit will be of great help not only to the people of Kegalle but also to other adjoining districts as super treatment units have not been set up to cater to the Delta variant.
“Several treatment centres have already been set up in the Kegalle district to treat COVID-19 patients while all those over the age of 30 will be vaccinated within two weeks through a rapid vaccination programme,” State Minister Herath added.
