Mercy Malaysia today handed over to the local authorities in Sri Lanka a divisional hospital which will provide health care services to the people in Jaffna.

The hospital was reconstructed at a cost of USD259,707 (about RM817,947) using the Disaster Fund under the Malaysian Foreign Ministry.

MERCY Malaysia executive council member Dr Heng Aik Cheng said the hospital would be able to provide maternity care and primary health care for the people of Ampan and much of the population in the eastern part of Jaffna.

“Once operational, we hope that this hospital will be able to serve approximately 10,000 people from the surrounding areas,” he said in a statement issued here today.

The handing over ceremony was held this morning at the newly reconstructed building in Ampan, Jaffna.

Since MERCY Malaysia assisted flood survivors in the country through 11 clinics eight years ago, they had reconstructed the Sadat Primary School in Akuressa, Matara -- the first reconstruction project done by Mercy Malaysia -- where the assistance included the supply of tables, chairs, books and teaching material.

Dr Heng said MERCY Malaysia has since developed a volunteer-based technical team consisting of engineers, architects and surveyors who contributed their expertise to health-related reconstruction project.

They also partnered with a local agency, Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies (CHA), in implementing reconstruction projects and other relief efforts in Sri Lanka.

Both MERCY Malaysia and CHA are currently running outreach clinics and hygiene programmes in Jaffna, and have recently started a water, sanitation and hygiene project for the returnees settling in Ampan. - BERNAMA