COVID Relief Fund

It is with great pleasure and gratitude that we publish this update on the COVID-19 Relief Effort in Sri Lanka!

With your generous donations, many of you have chosen to remain anonymous, we collected US$ 71,352.04. We are expecting closer to $10,000 in additional donations. We have already made payments and transfers totaling US$ 56,740.97 to various vendors as payment towards medical equipment that we donated to Sri Lankan hospitals.

Our donations are reaching all corners of the Island and are so proud to make these donations to many rural hospitals that have vastly inadequate medical equipment to fight the virus. These medical equipment will stay at these hospitals to fight various other deceases once we overcome the current pandemic.

List of Medical Equipment Donated:

1. A video laryngoscope worth US$ 3000 (SLR 600,000) was delivered to the Matara hospital. The company was to deliver the laryngoscope on Friday, June 25th, 2021. The highly dedicated doctor did not want to wait until then. He came down to Colombo on Tuesday and picked it up himself and it was in use from Wednesday.

2. Another video laryngoscope worth US$ 3000 (SLR 600,000) was delivered to the Kanthale hospital on Tuesday, June 29th, 2021.

3. An Airvo2 unit worth over US$ 6000 (SLR 1.2 million) was donated to the Lady Ridgeway Hospital on Wednesday, June 30th, 2021.

LRH is the largest children’s hospital in the world. They had only one other machine like that and were highly appreciative of our donation. Professor Sonnadara, the dean of the Science Faculty, participated in the handover ceremony.

4. A second Airvo2 machine worth over $6000 (SLR 1.2 million) was donated to the Laggala hospital on Monday, June 28th, 2021.

Here’s from the selection criteria used to select the Laggala Hospital:

“100 patients, 8 HDU.   They have zero HFNC machines.  Mostly elderly patients.”

(HDU –  High Dependency Units like ICUs,  HFNC – high flow nasal canula machines like Airvo 2)

5. A bronchoscope donated to the Matara hospital on Monday, June 28th, 2021. The value of the Bronchoscope is US$ 5,000 (SLR 1 million).

The hospital urgently needed a bronchoscope since it is critical medical equipment that saves life of patients.

6. 14 Flow meters shipped to Sri Lanka. These are used to connect Airvo 2 machines to wall air and are in very short supply in Sri Lanka. We are planning ahead and sending these to be used with the 14 Airvo 2 machines that will be shipped this weekend. CUFSAA-NA funded the cost of  07 of these AirVo2 machines at an expense of US$ 23,099.88 (SLR 4.6 million) plus the Freight Charges from New Zealand. These AirVo2 machines are earmarked for distribution to Wathupitiwala, Biyagama, Chilaw, Welikanda, Badulla, and Karawanella Hospitals.

7. A Philips Lumify Ultrasound handheld scanner to the Intensive Care Unit of the National Hospital of Sri Lanka at a cost of US$ 10,000 (SLR 2 million). This device can be taken to the bedside and scan COVID patients more efficiently and quickly without asking them to move around.

8. A theatre lamp at a cost of US$ 2,800 (SLR 560,000) to the Dambadeniya Base Hospital so they can continue surgeries without any interruptions.

Our sincere thanks to our fellow-alumna Dr. Asoka Ramanayake for coordinating this COVID Relief effort in Sri Lanka! She was instrumental in contacting hospitals around the Island, finding out their needs, and coordinating the delivery of medical equipment in the most efficient way.

05. COVID Relief Fund Update (June 19, 2021):

CUFSAA, in association with the Faculty of Science, Colombo University, continues its donations of medical equipment to hospitals in Sri Lanka to help save lives.

As a result of the unprecedented gesture of compassion and generosity of its members and well-wishers, CUFSAA is happy to report the following. As of June 18, it is poised to spend more than US$ 50,000 to provide urgently needed big-ticket life-saving medical equipment to a range of rural and urban hospitals in Sri Lanka.

Among the urgently needed big-ticket items that CUFSAA is providing are several high-flow O2 delivery (AIRVO2) machines. We see conclusive evidence from research on how high-flow nasal oxygen saves lives and spares patients from the trauma of intubation. Doctors see these machines as crucial for saving  lives. Sri Lanka is currently facing a considerable delay in the procurement and delivery of these machines. CUFSAA has risen to the occasion and is now making arrangements with a like-minded group (approved charity) in New Zealand to purchase and deliver seven high flow O2 delivery (AIRVO2) machines to rural hospitals in Sri Lanka.  These machines are to be purchased directly from the manufacturer in New Zealand. CUFSAA has already ordered two such devices (Rs. 2.45 million) locally, one for a NICU unit (Infants of COVID-infected mothers) at LRH and another for a rural hospital.

In addition to this, CUFSAA has made arrangements to deliver an urgently required laryngoscope (Rs. 537,000) to Matara hospital on Monday, June 21.  We have already delivered three multiparameter monitors and other equipment (Rs. 1.4 million) to the Dambadeniya Base hospital and a Philips Lumify Ultrasound handheld scanner (Rs. 2 million) to the Intensive Care Unit of the National Hospital of Sri Lanka in Colombo. These units are already in action saving precious Sri Lankan lives. The range of items to the Dambadeniya hospital also include a theatre lamp, tabletop pulse oximeters, blood pressure meters and an aspirator.

We think it is fair to say that CUFSAA is helping to save many lives in Sri Lanka in an unprecedented manner. We are far from done yet. Our members and well-wishers have so far contributed almost US$ 49,000. We get new requests for required medical equipment from many Sri Lankan (mainly from rural) hospitals.

04. COVID Relief Fund Update (June 13, 2021):

CUFSAA, with the help of donations made by its passionate and empathetic members and well-wishers, in association with the Faculty of Science, University of Colombo, has already begun making life-saving aid donations of high-priced medical devices to Sri Lankan hospitals in this crucial hour. As you read this, dedicated Sri Lankan doctors are working tirelessly and using your contributions to save lives and safely bring back Sri Lankan mothers and fathers home to their families.

• We donated a Philips Lumify Ultrasound handheld scanner to the Intensive Care Unit of the National Hospital of Sri Lanka at a cost of Rs. 2 million. This device can be taken to the bedside and scan COVID patients more efficiently and quickly without asking them to move around. We echo the following expression of  appreciation by the doctor in charge of the intensive care unit to give you a measure of the value of our donation:” I am sure this invaluable medical device may save many critically ill patients and their blessing will enable you to carry-on the good work in the future as well. I wish you good health and hope that everybody keeps safe during this challenging time.”

• We have ordered an adult high flow O2 delivery (AIRVO2) machine, at a cost of Rs. 1.2 million, which will be used to treat COVID patients. We plan to distribute this machine to a rural hospital.

• We donated a theatre lamp at a cost of Rs 560,000 to the Dambadeniya base hospital so they can continue surgeries without any interruptions.

• Three multiparameter monitors ordered at a cost of Rs. 220,000. These will be delivered to the Dambadeniya base hospital next Wednesday, June 16.

• In addition, we have ordered a range of medical equipment to the Dambadeniya base hospital that are urgently needed to treat COVID patients. The total cost of equipment for the Dambadeniya base hospital is Rs. 1.4 million. Some of these equipment have been put into use already and  saving patient lives.

• Responding to a request made by the Faculty of Medicine via the Faculty of Science, University of Colombo, we have ordered a neonatal high flow O2 delivery (AIRVO2) machine to the Lady Ridgeway hospital at a cost of Rs. 1.2 million. This machine will benefit infants born to mothers with COVID-19.

• Currently, there is a severe shortage of high flow O2 delivery machines in Sri Lanka, and they are not available for immediate purchase from local suppliers. Whilst working with an international group to procure two of these life-saving machines immediately, now there is an opportunity to purchase seven more machines if we could raise an additional $8,000 immediately. Our plan is to purchase and ship these machines to rural hospitals as soon as possible.

We were able to make these crucial donations thanks to the generous contributions made by our alumni and well-wishers who have compassionately come to the forefront in this battle to save Sri Lankan lives. These donations total US$ 46,402 (as of June 11, 2021). So far, more than 140 donors have rallied to support the cause.

Please continue your generous donations so that we can reach out to more patients in their darkest hours. Every dollar you contribute will go directly to Sri Lanka and help save a Sri Lankan life.

03. COVID Relief Fund Update (June 04, 2021):

We at CUFSAA-NA, in consultation with several Faculty members of the Faculty of Science at the University of Colombo, have identified three main paths of urgent COVID support. We are working diligently to support the people of our motherland in one of its darkest hours.

Support path 1:  To purchase and donate urgently needed big-ticket medical equipment to rural hospitals struggling to keep up with the ever-increasing number of COVID patients. We are working with an alumna (a former Science Faculty Lecturer) who provides yeoman service at ground level to identify urgent needs. (Funding as needed. We have committed US$ 14,000 so far.)

Support path 2: To donate a Fisher & Paykel Optiflow Nasal Oxygen delivering system to the NICU at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital. Physicians use this equipment to treat newborns of COVID-infected mothers. (Approximate cost US$ 6,000. We have committed funds for this project.)

Support path 3:  To donate a Philips Lumify Ultrasound handheld scanner to the National Hospital of Sri Lanka. This device can be taken to the bedside and scan COVID patients without asking patients to move around.  (Approximate cost US$ 10,000)

We note with appreciation the ideas and initiatives of our alumni, which helped us decide on some of these paths. Feel free to contact us at info@cufsaa.org  with any suggestions or endeavors you may have to help Sri Lankans pull through this devastating period.

Responding to these critical needs, we have revised our target to US$ 30,000.00 to fulfill our commitment. Thanks to the generosity and empathy of our grateful alumni, we have so far raised US$ 16,742.15 plus expected matching funds of US$ 7,000. We require just US$ 6,300 more to reach our target.

02. COVID Relief Fund Update (May 27, 2021):

It took CUFSAA-NA only four days to raise US$ 20,000 (including matching funds) for the COVID-relief effort in Sri Lanka. All thanks to our compassionate and grateful members and friends, who rose quickly to the occasion, not simply to meet but to exceed our initial expectations. We decided to raise the bar to reach a US$ 25,000 goal to extend our relief efforts to more hospitals that are in dire need of medical supplies. Thank you for rallying as one in these darkest hours of our motherland. We express our sincere appreciation and gratitude to all donors. We feel honored and privileged to be part of you, the alumni of the Faculty of Science and friends, an extraordinary group that showcases the highest echelons of humanity.

On May 25^th, we virtually met Professor Sonnadara  (Dean, Faculty of Science) and Professor Mahanama (Former Dean, Faculty of Science). The Faculty of Science academics are now collaborating with the dedicated professionals of the Faculty of Medicine and other alumni spearheading the COVID-relief efforts in Sri Lanka to find optimal solutions for the COVID patients in Sri Lanka.

If you have not contributed so far, please do so now. Every day and every dollar will count and help a Sri Lankan mother or father return safely to their children.

As every Sri Lankan knows, our country of birth is in the middle of a major humanitarian crisis. An invisible enemy is causing Sri Lankan children to lose their parents and loved ones, destroying their lives forever. Pictures of stunned and bewildered children and spouses saying goodbye to the remains of their beloved, surrounded by workers in full protective gear, have become excruciatingly difficult to watch.

It is time for us, the worldwide alumni of the Faculty of Science, University of Colombo, and friends, to rally and make an impact. The Colombo University Faculty of Science Alumni Association-NA (CUFSAA-NA) has joined hands with our teachers and colleagues of the Faculty of Science to directly donate urgently required medical equipment to a hospital in need.

We understand the strength of our worldwide alumni and friends, and we plan to use that to fund equipment that is expensive but will have the ability to make a significant impact saving life (such as ventilators). This way, your donations will make a crucial contribution towards making a difference. Our ground team will be the faculty members led by the Dean (with the patronage of the Vice-Chancellor, herself a highly regarded professor of medicine). Our job is to unify our brothers and sisters worldwide and help the first responders in our motherland perform their honorable and tireless endeavors to save Sri Lankan Lives.

We expect to receive exact requirements such as a list of most needed equipment, their prices, and availability through the Dean/Science. When such information is received it will be shared with you through this webpage.

Our immediate target is to raise over US$ 15,000.

We need to raise this money within a week to provide the immediate relief need. So please step in and contribute generously. Thank you!