The partnership between the Hannover Medical School, Germany, and the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital in Galle, Sri Lanka, is improving intensive care for paediatric patients in Galle. Exchanges of experts and internships are to steadily increase the expertise available.
Problem: Prior to 2008 paediatric intensive medicine did not exist as a discipline in Sri Lanka, meaning that life-threatening diseases among children were often fatal. The goal of the Sri Lankan Government is now to put in place nationwide paediatric intensive care by establishing and developing focal centres.
Main activities: Materials are to be procured and a high dependency unit established. There is to be professional dialogue and training for doctors and nursing staff. An online training platform is to be produced in English for nursing staff, providing for joint e-learning that is to use video audits.
Short-term results: The care capacity is to be increased and the number of deaths resulting from patients being turned away is to be reduced. Children and young people up to the age of 18 are to survive acute conditions thanks to the high standard of intensive medical care available.
Long-term results: Better nationwide care for seriously ill children in the field of intensive medicine will benefit all minors in the region.