Serving devotees with medical care in Eastern Sri Lanka.

01/09/2012: Okkanda is a Holy Temple venerated by thousands of people without any religious discrimination. Thousands of devotees who aim to reach Kataragama, another famous Sri Lankan religious site pass by this holy temple  and also rest before entering the Kumana Wild Life Sanctuary onwards to Kataragama.

Sri Lanka Red Cross Society Ampara Branch has been providing this first aid service as a major first aid service since for a many years. This year also the branch organized the service with her volunteers for 16 days starting from mid July.

More than 50 volunteers provided their voluntary service day and night in this First Aid camp. There were two teams in orperation where one is on duty at the first aid post while the others were preparing food for the devotees.

In addition to the First Aid Service visibility boards were erected in the temple premises with health messages to aware on possible hazards and hygiene practices .

Medical services were also provided by the Government hospital and its doctors who were constantly present at the first aid post. Government hospitals also provided ambulance service to the first aid post, if in case of a major incident and the patience needed to be transported to hospital.