The Hanover Lions District III NH, which consists of 84 clubs, is funding the PICU-development project in Galle in the South of Sri Lanka, where severe damages had been experienced during the Tsunami disaster on 26th December 2004. H.E. the Ambassador Mr. Sarrath Kongahage had a cordial meeting with the Project Directors of the PICU Foundation, Prof. Wolt Dieter Gogll and Mr. Hartmuth Schulz of the Lions Organization of Hanover. Prof. Wolt Dieter Gogll together with the late Mr. Chandra de Silva of the Lions Club of Hikkaduwa and the doctors of Karapitiya Teaching Hospital in Galle initiated the PICU-development project.
Initially, the project was launched to develop 3 fully equipped intensive care beds. Now the project has been upgraded to 7 beds and a recovery unit with 10 beds. The Medical University of Hanover has signed a partnership agreement with the PICU in Galle to extend medical training.
From the initiation up to now, PICU has treated more than 500 children by delegated doctors and nurses led by Dr. Upeksha Liyanage, the Head of the Unit. The project was a splendid service of Lions Club of Hanover, Prof. Wolt Dieter Gogll and Mr. Hartmuth Schulz together with Founder Directors of PICU Dr. Pushpa Punchihewa, Dr. Upeksha Liyanage, Dr. Udara Gunawardane and Medical Staff of PICU with Mr. Nissanka Epaliyana of Lions Club of Hikkaduwa, who were instrumental in initiating the foster parent programme for 800 children mainly funded from Germany. Altogether the program (www.picu-sri-lanka.com) has been a great success.
Hon. Minister of Health Mr. Maithripala Sirisena has named the PICU-development project as "Light House Pediatric Intensive Care Project", which in his opinion is a project that should spread to all districts in Sri Lanka. H.E. the Ambassador Mr. Sarrath Kongahage expressed his gratitude for the assistance done and said that the fullest cooperation and assistance will be given for the future development of the project.