Nederlands
HealthNet TPO in Sri Lanka
HealthNet TPO works on rebuilding health care in areas disrupted by war, disasters and poverty. This process of 'rebuilding' starts with healthcare. By using health as both a goal and a means, we work together with local communities on the rehabilitation of people and the country. This process of 'rebuilding' starts with healthcare, likewise in Sri Lanka.
Since 2002 HealthNet TPO has supported research in Sri Lanka with local partner organization Shantiham as part of an effectiveness study on mental health interventions. HealthNet TPO also has been active in helping and supporting survivors, and especially children: local health workers get trained, who in turn can help thousands of people with psychological problems caused by the tsunami. In addition, HealthNet TPO contributed to mental health activities, by our psychiatrist that supported local partner Shantiham.
From 2004 to 2009 the Child Thematic Project was – among others- implemented in Sri Lanka, to test our model in the North in collaboration with Shantiham. HealthNet TPO has further supported Shantiham in post-Tsunami rehabilitation efforts. After the political changes in Sri Lanka in 2010, HealthNet TPO continues to explore how to optimally support the programme of rebuilding local communities in the Northern Provinces after years of war. Additionally, the MENCAFEP project will be continued in 2011.
Sri Lanka
Area: 65.610 km²
Population: 21.324.791 (in 2009)
Neighboring states: -
Capital: Colombo/Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte
Government: Presidential republic
Religion: Hinduism and Buddhism
Background
In the colonial era, Sri Lanka (then called 'Ceylon') was in succession ruled by Portugal, the Netherlands and Great Britain. In 1948 the country became independent, and when all ties with the British Empire were broken off in 1972, the republic came as we know it today. This process was accompanied by the change of name into Sri Lanka. After the independence, an ethnic civil war broke out between Tamils (minority group who enjoyed a privileged position during British control) and Sinhalese (majority group that came to power after independence). The Sinhalese were trying to improve their social position, while the Tamils revolted against the government army, with the aim of an independent state in the North. Over the years, this civil war caused more than 15.000 casualties. The official peace was only signed in 2009.
Sri Lanka as a country is still coming to terms with the end of the 25 year old civil war. Nearly two generations have been brutalised by violence, two generations have grown up knowing nothing but war. In the North and East of the country were the war was mainly fought, education was very badly affected, schools bombed, teachers killed, no school furniture, no school books. Infrastructure, health care centers and sanitation facilities were destroyed. The physical and mental damage done to the population and especially children has not been measured and perhaps never can!
In the East of Sri Lanka and in the Trincomalee District where some of the heaviest fighting of the war took place, the damage done materially, physically and mentally has been immense and wounds run deep. Add to this the 2004 Tsunami that killed some 20,000 people in the Eastern Province (about 40.000 deaths in total) and obliterated what was left of the infrastructure in the affected area.
