The North-East Women’s Union (NEWU) held a massive protest yesterday (6) in all eight districts in the Northern and Eastern provinces, urging the Government to address the shortages in essential medicines and medical equipment in State hospitals.
The Northern Province comprises the Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mannar, Mullaitivu, and Vavuniya districts, while the Eastern Province comprises the Ampara, Batticaloa, and Trincomalee districts.
Speaking to The Morning, NEWU representative Viveki Nishanthan said that the shortage in medicinal drugs and equipment has badly affected everyone in this country following the economic crisis. Thus, the NEWU wanted to bring it to the notice of President Ranil Wickremesinghe by handing over a petition stating that it had also affected those in the North and the East. “Around 500 members participated in each of the eight districts to bring this issue to the notice of the President. We cannot afford to buy medicines from pharmacies as the economic crisis has hit us too. This issue is not only faced by us but by everyone in the country. But on behalf of the NEWU, we want to address the issue with the representation of all women in the North and the East,” she added.
She further said that there is a massive drug shortage in all the State hospitals in the North and the East, and that most people are now facing difficulties when they opt to buy medications from pharmacies because most medications are expensive and therefore, unaffordable.
“There is no medication for dog bites and snake bites. It is dangerous for us to live like this. When we live in villages, we have to face such issues. This is our fundamental right. So, we have now sent a petition to the President, Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) and the World Health Organisation (WHO),” she said.
The petition highlighted that the people in the North and the East are facing difficulties while purchasing medications from private clinics or pharmacies, due to the drug shortage in State hospitals in the area.
“We appeal to the Government to address this shortage issue and to take necessary steps to provide adequate medications to the affected areas,” the petition read.
Female representatives from both provinces held slogans that read: “The Government of Sri Lanka should immediately facilitate the availability of essential medicines and medical devices to the people”, “Ensure women’s health rights”, “Our life, our rights”, and “Health rights are human rights”.