Life-saving medical supplies are being sent from the UAE and other countries to Sri Lanka by concerned citizens as hospitals run out of essential medicines and the island nation grapples with its worst economic crisis.
Every day Sri Lankan citizens in the UAE, UK and India join online video meetings held by government medical officials that reveal the urgent requirements of hospitals across the country.
The Sri Lankan community overseas then contacts medical suppliers with lists that range from ventilator tubes for newborn babies, syringes, catheters and bags to store donated blood, to insulin vials, chemotherapy and cardiac medication.
These supplies are going to save so many lives
Dr Anver Hamdani,
Sri Lanka Health ministry coordinator
The teams have been working for the past few weeks to purchase supplies, pack these in Dubai warehouses and air freight the cartons to Sri Lanka.
“Expatriates have been a great support to us in this difficult juncture. They have helped bridge the gap with donor activities all over the world,” said Dr Anver Hamdani, recently appointed as Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Health co-ordinator for healthcare service.
“If not for this voluntary overseas effort of Sri Lankans coming forward, we would have found it very hard to manage an acute crisis on a day-to-day basis.”
The World Bank has agreed to provide Sri Lanka with $600 million in financial assistance to help meet payments for essential imports, and neighbouring nations such as India, Indonesia and China have also pledged assistance.
But this aid will take time to arrive in hospitals in need of immediate assistance. This prompted the Sri Lankan community overseas to swing into action when they heard requests for help from doctors across the nation’s hospitals.
“These supplies have helped so many institutions. They come and tell us how these supplies are going to save so many lives,” Dr Hamdani told The National from Colombo.
“There is a shortage of medicines that we are trying to overcome by identifying the vital and essential drugs needed for the country.”
He said Sahana, a Sri Lankan welfare association in the UAE, the Narayana Reddy foundation in India and groups in the UK, US and Australia had been a tremendous support.
Once supplies are received in Colombo, they are sent to about 400 hospitals suffering shortages.
It was a desperate audio recording sent by a Sri Lankan doctor early this month to colleagues that caught the attention of the overseas community.
The doctor said that used endotracheal tubes would need to be sterilised for reuse in the neonatal unit. The tubes connect to ventilators to help infants and children breathe and his dire message triggered a flood of supplies.
Isthiaq Raziq, president of Sahana in the UAE, said the group was also working with Sri Lankans in Australia and Canada who were keen to help.
More than Dh90,000 worth of medical supplies has been sent home.
“The community has come together regardless of any association knowing there is a medical crisis and that Sri Lanka does not have the liquidity to purchase these medications,” he said.
“We have been despatching emergency supplies for the last three weeks. The UAE being very close it’s easier to reach supplies because there are a dozen flights going to Sri Lanka.”
Residents have also carried supplies in their baggage when flying home.
Cartons are being sent as air cargo with the UAE and Sri Lanka flags and tagged with the message: With love and care Sri Lankans in the UAE.
Sri Lanka’s financial crisis sparked protests across the country with record inflation resulting in food and fuel shortages, and power blackouts.
The country normally imports 85 per cent of its medical requirements. The lack of foreign currency reserves meant it ran out of dollars to pay for imports placing the healthcare system in crisis.
Some essential medicines and surgical supplies from India and Indonesia have reached Sri Lanka. But doctors believe it will take at least another month for the medical crisis to ease and the donations pledged to be deployed or made available in Sri Lanka.
Dr Hamdani, who was also in charge of Covid-19 co-ordination, said people could email moh.covid.coordinator@gmail.com for more information about the medical aid that is required.
“Whoever wants to come forward, whoever is willing to help us out, they can reach us through email. We will send all the details, list of drugs, explain the process, the necessary documents and liaise with them,” he said.
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: seven-speed auto
Power: 420 bhp
Torque: 624Nm
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On sale: now
Results:
6.30pm: Maiden Dh165,000 2,000m - Winner: Powderhouse, Sam Hitchcott (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap Dh165,000 2,200m - Winner: Heraldic, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
7.40pm: Conditions Dh240,000 1,600m - Winner: Walking Thunder, Connor Beasley, Ahmed bin Harmash
8.15pm: Handicap Dh190,000 2,000m - Winner: Key Bid, Fernando Jara, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
8.50pm: The Garhoud Sprint Listed Dh265,000 1,200m - Winner: Drafted, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson
9.25pm: Handicap Dh170,000 1,600m - Winner: Cachao, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
10pm: Handicap Dh190,000 1,400m - Winner: Rodaini, Connor Beasley, Ahmed bin Harmash
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Where can I submit a sample?
Volunteers can now submit DNA samples at a number of centres across Abu Dhabi. The programme is open to all ages.
Collection centres in Abu Dhabi include:
- Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC)
- Biogenix Labs in Masdar City
- Al Towayya in Al Ain
- NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City
- Bareen International Hospital
- NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
- NMC Royal Medical Centre - Abu Dhabi
- NMC Royal Women’s Hospital.
Company%20Profile
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Jebel Ali results
2pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 50,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner: AF Al Moreeb, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
2.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Shamikh, Ryan Curatolo, Nicholas Bachalard
3pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 64,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: One Vision, Connor Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
3.30pm: Conditions (TB) Dh 100,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Gabr, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson
4pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 96,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner: Just A Penny, Sam Hitchcock, Doug Watson
4.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Torno Subito, Sam Hitchcock, Doug Watson
5pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 76,000 (D) 1,950m
Winner: Untold Secret, Jose Santiago, Salem bin Ghadayer
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Studying addiction
This month, Dubai Medical College launched the Middle East’s first master's programme in addiction science.
Together with the Erada Centre for Treatment and Rehabilitation, the college offers a two-year master’s course as well as a one-year diploma in the same subject.
The move was announced earlier this year and is part of a new drive to combat drug abuse and increase the region’s capacity for treating drug addiction.
MATCH DETAILS
Juventus 2 (Bonucci 36, Ronaldo 90 6)
Genoa 1 (Kouame 40)
Naga
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Six pitfalls to avoid when trading company stocks
Following fashion
Investing is cyclical, buying last year's winners often means holding this year's losers.
Losing your balance
You end up with too much exposure to an individual company or sector that has taken your fancy.
Being over active
If you chop and change your portfolio too often, dealing charges will eat up your gains.
Running your losers
Investors hate admitting mistakes and hold onto bad stocks hoping they will come good.
Selling in a panic
If you sell up when the market drops, you have locked yourself out of the recovery.
Timing the market
Even the best investor in the world cannot consistently call market movements.
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
'The Lost Daughter'
Director: Maggie Gyllenhaal
Starring: Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, Dakota Johnson
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
QUALIFYING RESULTS
1. Max Verstappen, Netherlands, Red Bull Racing Honda, 1 minute, 35.246 seconds.
2. Valtteri Bottas, Finland, Mercedes, 1:35.271.
3. Lewis Hamilton, Great Britain, Mercedes, 1:35.332.
4. Lando Norris, Great Britain, McLaren Renault, 1:35.497.
5. Alexander Albon, Thailand, Red Bull Racing Honda, 1:35.571.
6. Carlos Sainz Jr, Spain, McLaren Renault, 1:35.815.
7. Daniil Kvyat, Russia, Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda, 1:35.963.
8. Lance Stroll, Canada, Racing Point BWT Mercedes, 1:36.046.
9. Charles Leclerc, Monaco, Ferrari, 1:36.065.
10. Pierre Gasly, France, Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda, 1:36.242.
Eliminated after second session
11. Esteban Ocon, France, Renault, 1:36.359.
12. Daniel Ricciardo, Australia, Renault, 1:36.406.
13. Sebastian Vettel, Germany, Ferrari, 1:36.631.
14. Antonio Giovinazzi, Italy, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:38.248.
Eliminated after first session
15. Antonio Giovinazzi, Italy, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:37.075.
16. Kimi Raikkonen, Finland, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:37.555.
17. Kevin Magnussen, Denmark, Haas Ferrari, 1:37.863.
18. George Russell, Great Britain, Williams Mercedes, 1:38.045.
19. Pietro Fittipaldi, Brazil, Haas Ferrari, 1:38.173.
20. Nicholas Latifi, Canada, Williams Mercedes, 1:38.443.
THE SPECS
Engine: six-litre W12 twin-turbo
Transmission: eight-speed dual clutch auto
Power: 626bhp
Torque: 900Nm
Price: Dh940,160 (plus VAT)
On sale: Q1 2020
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
THE SPECS
Engine: 3-litre V6
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 424hp
Torque: 580 Nm
Price: From Dh399,000
On sale: Now
MANDOOB
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