Thank you for valuing human life at Peradeniya Hospital’s COVID wards
Having had fever for about 11 days with a swollen foot, cough, cold and some difficulty in breathing, I consulted our family doctor who asked me to get a PCR test done for COVID-19. Since my husband also had a slight headache, fever and cough, both of us got PCR tests done on June 7 at the Peradeniya Teaching Hospital. The test results were positive, so both of us were admitted to Ward 17 (special COVID-19 ward) of the Peradeniya Teaching Hospital on June 10.
The COVID patients in Ward 17 were treated excellently by all the staff members from Consultant down to cleaning staff. Patients were medically treated with antibiotics, saline, oral drugs and injections. I saw how they provided oxygen to patients with difficulty in breathing and how the ‘Suvaviru Team’ tried to resuscitate dying patients. But unfortunately, even with these great treatments, some COVIDpneumonia patients died.
My husband, I and some other COVID patients were transferred to Ward 18, the other special ward, on June 11 and were treated with all required medical tests, treatments and food etc., all FREE. My husband was discharged after 14 days but I had to wait for 19 days as the Doctors had to get some more reports from the laboratory.
I wish to thank all the members of the ‘Suvaviru Team’ in Wards 17 and 18 for their service. All the staff members helped us all the time even during night hours. Staff provided prompt instructions to the helpers of some patients. I wish to thank all the helpers too because in addition to their duties, they helped the other patients and also the medical staff.
I saw some patients dying in Wards 17 and 18 which made me strong to survive in this world. Life is uncertain but death is certain. We should help others whenever possible during our lifetime.
The consultant of the ward, the leader of the ‘Suvaviru Team’, has done an excellent job with the help of his team. Congratulations dear Sir, you taught us that ‘there is a value for a life of a person’, not a dead body.
I also wish to thank my three sisters, relations, friends, Rev. Fathers, Rev. Sisters, Buddhist monks and all those who were with us during our difficult time. I thank my family Doctor for his prompt advice.
I wish to thank the Government of Sri Lanka for providing free medical facilities to COVID-19 patients in Government Hospitals.
(Mrs) K.M.N. Abhayasinghe
Menikdiwela