UN appreciates the services of Sri Lankan Army medical contingent in South Sudan at medal ceremony

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) recognized Sri Lanka’s first ever Army medical contingent in South Sudan at a colorful medal ceremony recently in Bor, South Sudan.

The Sri Lanka Army at the request of the UN, has established its first-ever SRIMED Level 2 Hospital in Jonglei state in South Sudan in July this year, under the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

The medical staff of the new SRIMED Level 2 Hospital, managed by the Sri Lankan contingent in Bor, together with the engineering platoon, deployed for construction of the hospital received the UN Medal in appreciation of their valuable contribution to the global peace and security under the UN flag.

The medal awarding ceremony was held under the patronage of UNMISS state coordinator for Jonglei State Ms Hazel De Wet, and with the presence of military commanders and other distinguished guests in the UNMISS compound at Bor on the invitation of the Commanding Officer Lt Col Saveen Semage.

The newly-built hard walled radiology department of the hospital was also declared open by the chief guest on the same day at the invitation of the Sri Lankan contingent.

The hospital is manned entirely by the Sri Lanka Army Medical Corp personnel and is slated to provide second line health care to all UN personnel serving there.

The SRIMED Hospital with its 66 Sri Lankan Army staff, is commanded by Consultant Epidemiologist, Lieutenant Colonel Saveen Semage and managed by four specialists, Lieutenant Colonel Sherman Fernando, Consultant Physician, Lieutenant Colonel Percy Dias, Consultant Surgeon, Lieutenant Colonel Chevindra Bopitiya, Consultant, Orthopedic Surgeon and Lieutenant Colonel Arul Murali, Consultant Anesthetist.

The facility, equipped with medical accessories taken to South Sudan from Sri Lanka, has been appreciated by the UN leadership as well as the local and the international community for its modern facilities and high level of professionalism within a very short period, opening up various new avenues for Sri Lanka Army in the sphere of peacekeeping missions.

The UN assignment in South Sudan for the Sri Lankan contingent is of special significance since it was the first medical contingent to have served a UN assignment.