By Dilanthi Jayamanne
The Department of Health is faced with an acute shortage of surgeons to send to the conflict areas. "We have been compelled to send trainees at times so as to meet with the increasing demand for surgeons in the North-East," the Director General of Health Services, Dr. A. M. Beligaswatte said, speaking at the inauguration of the two day seminar organised by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on `War Surgery", Friday

The seminar was organised in collaboration with the medical services of the armed forces and the College of Surgeons of Sri Lanka, with the participation of over 100 doctors and surgeons.

"The importance of managing injured civilians and armed forces cannot be emphasised," Dr. Beligaswatte who was chief guest at the inauguration ceremony said.

President, Clinical Society of the Armed Forces Medical Services, Maj. General, Dudley Perera explaining First Aid, Resuscitation and Evacuation of Wounded said that the army had still been unable to improve one area in which casualties were brought back to an Advance Dressing Station to receive preliminary first aid. "Our hospitals are fully equipped to meet the demands of the wounded and it is only the process of bringing a casualty to the first stage of receiving medical attention has yet to be improved upon."

ICRC’s Dr. Giannou spoke on ballistics; bombs, bullets and blasts, triage and the basic principles of war wound management.

Also participating in the seminar were lecturers from the National Hospital, Sri Jayawardenepura General Hospital, Eye Hospital, the Jaffna Teaching Hospital and several other members of the ICRC delegation.

The seminar was held to exchange experiences among Sri Lankan and ICRC surgeons and to impart the knowledge to trainee surgeons in training so that it may enable them to better their practice so as to adhere to correct principles in the surgical management of those wounded in the war.

ICRC Head of Delegation, Izabel Barraz said that the ICRC hoped to improve the management and treatment of war wounded by offering assistance in materials, equipment and training as the necessity arises.