Jaffna health services are totally dependent on the ICRC vessel, "Jaya Gold" for drug supplies to the entire health network which caters to the 500,000 population in the Peninsul,a Dr. U. Sivapathsunderam, Deputy Provincial Director Health Services (DPDHS) was quoted as saying in the ICRC’s News Letter.

‘Jaya Gold’ sails weekly between Point Pedro in the Jaffna Peninsula and Trincomalee. These voyages have become the sole mode of conveyance for patients from the north referred to Colombo hospitals, to travel to the south and return after receiving specialized medical treatment. The ICRC introduced this service in the early 90s, having obtained agreement of the Government and security guarantees from the LTTE.

The lack of advanced technology in medical investigations, diagnosis and treatment such as radio therapy for cancer patients, laser treatment, echo treatment and thyroid assay, is yet another problem we face... this is why the ICRC Service which transfers patients to the south for urgent medical consultation, investigation and medical treatment is of vital importance, Dr. Mrs. Kanagaratn, Director of the Jaffna Teaching Hospital (JTH) said. "We are totally dependent on this vessel for the transport of all drugs supplies & medical equipment from Colombo, transport of defective equipment for repairs. This is in addition apart from the transport of our medical personnel for exams, training, interviews and urgent medical conferences to and from Jaffna", she said.

" We are totally dependent on the ICRC vessel for drug supplies to the entire health network which caters to the 500,000 population in the entire peninsula from Point Pedro to Pallai (thirteen central dispensaries, nine central dispensaries & maternity homes, four rural hospitals, six peripheral units, one base hospital, six district hospitals, one chest hospital and one chest clinic), all which come under DPDHS purview," explains Dr. U. Sivapathsunderam, Deputy Provincial Director Health Services (DPDHS).

The voyage to Trincomalee takes around 15-18 hours, meals are served on board for the passengers. On arrival in Trincomalee the vessel first anchors at Round Island when the travel authorization and IDS of the passengers & baggage are checked by the Sri Lanka Navy who board the vessel prior to disembarkation of the passengers. Sri Lankan Navy divers check the hull the vessel prior to docking. From here the ICRC escorts the patients over land in a convoy to Colombo and by evening are handed over to the respective Government hospitals where they have been referred to such as the National Hospital, Maharagama Cancer Hospital, Eye Hospital, Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital, Women’s Hospital and Dental Institute along with their ‘bystanders’ plus their appropriate medical documents. Once the period of treatment is completed, the hospital authorities inform the ICRC accordingly and the patients and ‘ bystanders’ are once again collected from their respective hospitals for the return journey to Jaffna from Trincomalee. In extreme cases, where a patient has completed the prescribed treatment early or when the hospital has a problem of space, the ICRC makes arrangements to accommodate such patient and ‘bystander’ in lodgings in Colombo until the next voyage. If a patient discharges oneself without permission from the relevant hospital authorities, the ICRC does not bear any responsibility for the consequences arising therefrom.

For the return voyage, all relevant medical information is submitted by the ICRC to the MOD and for the necessary clearance for the passengers to board the ICRC vessel in Trincomalee, on Tuesday having travelled overland by ICRC convoy. On the day of loading, the Navy first checks the vessel and thereafter the patients/ passengers, and cargo. Finally, Navy divers check the bottom of the vessel before the green light is given to sail.

The ship is utilized to reunite families who have been separated by the conflict with their loved ones and also for detainees who have been released to return to their homes. The ‘Jaya Gold’ is also utilized by governmental officials from the Ministry of Education, Exams Dept., along with personnel from various NGOs working in the Jaffna peninsula such as GTZ, CARE, FORUT, MSF, SCF, UNDP, UNHCR, INCLUDING ICRC personnel.

The cost per day amounts to approx. US $3600 and every three months US $82,000 as fuel costs.

All laboratory equipment, musical instruments, sent to the schools in the peninsula by the Ministry of Education go via the ICRC vessel. Sri Lanka Posts Authority send their mail bags from Trincomalee to Jaffna and vice versa. All NGOs working in Jaffna use the ship to transport the requisite cargo for their activities.