JAT Holdings CSR Venture gets under way

A JAT training and Simulation Centre is to be set up under the auspices of the Sri Lanka College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists (SLCOG.) at Model Farm Rd, Colombo 8, and for this purpose its foundation laying ceremony for the estimated Rs. 30 million centre was held last week.

Present on the occasion was Prof. Sir Sabaratnam Arulkumaran, President of the British Medical Association, who is Professor Emeritus of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at St George’s University of London; Prof. Hemantha Senanayake - Immediate Past President and Initiator of the Training and Simulation Centre Project; and Aelian Gunawardene - Managing Director JAT Holdings.

Also present were Joyce Gunawardene – Director Promotions JAT Holdings & SLCOG Members; Dr. Kanishka Karunaratne (President Elect SLCOG), Dr. Rohana Hattotuwa, Dr. Ajitha Wijesundera, Dr. U.D.P Ratna- siri, Dr. Samanthi Premaratne, Dr. Ramya Pathiraja, and Dr. Gamini Perera.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Gunawardene said, “As part of its corporate social responsibility projects the ultimate goal of JAT together with the SLCOG is not merely to minimise the number of maternal deaths, but also to educate and empower those concerned (Mid Wives, Nurses, Doctors and Support Staff) in self-help methods”.

JAT will fund this venture through the sales generated off Permoglaze paints, a brand of Crown paints of UK, which is manufactured under licence in Sri Lanka by JAT Holdings. “When you buy a litre of Permoglaze paint we make sure that a percentage of the sales will be contributed towards this noble cause of saving the mothers of our nation,” said Mr. Gunawardene.

Prof. Senanayake, the initiator of this project said, “although Sri Lan- ka’s maternal mortality rate of 35 for every 100,000 live births when compared with that of most other developing nations is highly commendable, we cannot rest on our laurels. Sri Lanka is almost unique in that we investigate thoroughly every maternal death. We have learnt from these investigations that a sizeable number of these deaths are preventable. Training of care providers to avert emergencies and to handle them as a team when they do occur will go a long way towards preventing such deaths. The Training and Simulation Centre is meant to fulfil this aim and we are very grateful to JAT for so readily taking this up as their CSR commitment”.

The new venture will have the following - Theatre style Lecture Room; Demonstration (Procedure) Room; Facility Control Room and Additional space for future expansion The project is expected to be completed in 2015.