- Ride for Ceylon shares the efforts made to rebuild a heritage hospital
The Green Memorial Hospital (GMH) Manipay in Jaffna was the country’s first teaching hospital, but recently faced criticism over the work carried out by three not-for-profit entities working together to re-establish this heritage hospital and regain its former glory. Following are excerpts of a statement issued by Ride for Ceylon in response to the criticisms against the project:
The GMH was established in 1847 and was Ceylon’s first teaching hospital, going on to produce around 60 doctors before the Colombo Medical College was established. By 2004, the hospital was in a completely dilapidated state and closed down.
There was a war going on for quite some time by then and the hospital was as much a casualty. It was the two Arnold brothers who came here from London to help with the tsunami of 2004, found the hospital in total neglect, and formed a charity to bring in funds from around the world.
With the establishment of The Bengal Medical College in Calcutta in 1835, it was Stewart-Mackenzie, the Governor of the second executive council of British Ceylon, who began sending a small number of Ceylonese to study medicine in Calcutta in 1839. In 1847, an American Missionary Dr. Samuel Fisk Green started a private medical school in Manipay in addition to operating a clinic to treat locals.
With the two Arnold brothers forming a charity – Friends of Manipay Hospital (FoMH) – registered with the UK Charity Commission, arrangements were made to engage with the hospital from 2004, to commence rebuilding and refurbishing the buildings. Over the years, they went on to engage with doctors and hospital staff and actually begin treating patients.
This work included raising money for equipment, a daunting task given the cost of building and medical equipment today. As progress was being made with the donations that were flowing in from generous people, mostly known to the Arnolds, many good things began to take shape from the jungle state at Manipay.
FoMH was working closely with Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS) in these years, where the doctors who served at the hospital were attached to, and also the training of nurses and technical staff for the hospital took place by the IMS. Anybody visiting the hospital today can see and meet these good people who serve at this great establishment dedicated to service the poor with proper medical services with such dedication. The nurses and technicians are with proper training and backed with certification and recognition.
By 2017, a new idea came up, where a small group of cyclists decided to raise money for the hospital and the fundraising cycle rides began that year. FoMH engaged with the cycling groups from the beginning, where all funds raised were through the mechanisms of FoMH using their bank accounts and financial systems to channel the funds to the various needs of the hospital.
The riders only organised the rides and rode from Colombo to Jaffna, while FoMH raised funds for arranging the rides as well. These were mostly personal contributions from the trusties and private donors until the funds from the riders and their donors came in. Over the years, ride sponsors have also been putting up funds to promote and grow the ride efforts which today go under the banner of Ride4Ceylon.
This is how three not-for-profit organisations combined to restore a Ceylonese heritage hospital – The Green Memorial Hospital.
Funds raised and progress made
With restoration work going on since 2004, and the fundraising rides commencing in 2017, the stage was set to increase capacity in generating donations, so that more intense work could be taken on annually.
With the rides gaining momentum, quite a lot of awareness has built over the years around the world and many individuals and organisations have rallied as donors around this entire effort. One must keep in mind that this was an initiative taken by two individuals working at their day jobs full time, while dedicating all their spare time for this cause.
For the most part, the work was “learn as you go” which they achieved well and diligently. Looking back, the journey seems an unbelievable one with so much achieved for the hospital and many friends made to bring in donations.
The Jaffna Diocese of the Church of South India (JDCSI) and the then-Bishop giving permission to carry on with this work. Co-ordinating all this work comes with its share of complexity, especially when managed between four organisations, which includes the church as well. No matter what the difficulties, FoMH has pushed forward on a positive note at every turn.
It is this positive attitude and hope that has become infectious in creating a following of donors and volunteers who believe in the cause. The reason these people take this position is because they see, every year, the progress made. As much as the funds coming in have been full of generosity, the work at hand has been equally demanding, and a fine balance has to be made in undertaking every new project that builds a hospital.
A key part of managing the finances as a charity registered in London is to adhere to the regulatory requirements that govern the activity, which is also one of transparency as displayed on the official website of the charity commission. This also lends to the confidence of donors in addition to seeing the work that is going on at the hospital.
The hospital today stands tall with staff and patients mingling daily while on another front building and maintenance work is also taking place.
The holistic scope of the cause undertaken by FoMH goes beyond rebuilding the hospital, and aims to:
- Re-establish the GMH to its former glory as a heritage hospital
- Provide medical services to poor people free of charge
- Rebuild lives of people of the North affected by the war by creating jobs and careers
- Bring together a donor community and volunteers to catalyse development