As of today, progress is as follows:

Imported Medicines

Awaiting clearance, still stuck in airport. These are life-saving drugs and lives are being lost so as soon as we clear these goods, we will load them in army trucks and send them straight to Vavuniya and Padaviya Hospitals. We have the contact numbers and know the doctors on the other side who will confirm they received the shipment.

Goods Raised By ACT

We are spending considerable resources on medical equipment. These include everything from amputation saws to foetal heart-rate monitors. The list is based on the “Needs Assessment” by our Chairman.

Help Needed

1. Funding – we can furnish proposals for how we will spend the money and we will issue receipts. However, based on the “Need’, we really need the big corporates to donate something, anything.
2. Toys – We are presently debating whether we should spend on purchasing toys when medicines are a priority. Thus, some sort of “Toy Drive” that will raise old toys would be most useful. Bearing in mind the high number of kids under 10, of which at least 70% are under 5, toys can have a huge impact on easing their mental anguish. Annika from our Trust is the liaison on this, please contact her at toys@actlanka.org if you can help or mount a toy initiative of any sort.
3. Pillows – Once again an item that will increase comfort but not be justifiable in our budget. Not a single patient has a pillow. Can anyone manage this area?
4. Delivery – We hope to deliver on Sat May 16th (except for medicines that we pre-send). We will need more people to accompany us upto Madawachchiya (approx 20km from Anuradhapura). This is where we have to unload everything and reoad into army vehicles. This time we will have a lot more stuff and need more support on this. Let us know if you are available.
5. Packing Team – Stays the same, please be available on Friday night 15th May.

We will be in touch with more shortly. The ACT website www.actlanka.org will have more news.

Thanks and regards
Radhika, Krishni and Hira