Hospital ship; women patients waiting; medical staff and patients; drummers and dancers on quayside; nurses; Prime Minister and Health Minister with Walsh and Corry; nurses sing; ship.




Initials GHB/VS/JF/PF



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Background: The American Hospital ship "Hope" arrived in Colombio Harbour, Ceylon, on April 15 to start a ten-month visit. Mr. Dudley Senanayake, the Ceylonese Prime Minister, and the Health Minister, Mr. E. L. Senanayake, welcomed the ship and its crew.

The "Hope", which carries some of the most modern medical equipment and a complement of doctors and nurses equivalent to the staff of a large hospital, will treat Ceylonese patients throughout her stay.

The Director of the project, Dr. William Walsh, said the hospital ship could not perform miracles, but everything possible would be done to treat as many patients as possible. Ceylonese doctors, nurses and medical attendants would also be trained by the personnel of the hospital ship. He said the visit was to foster the existing friendship between the two countries and to continue the "Hope's" - "People to People" Health Service. The project is financed by individual donations.

As the American nurses and doctors came ashore to greet the Ceylonese Prime Minister and other dignitaries, kandy dancers and drummers gave a traditional performance. Then the American nurses delighted the crowd by singing Ceylon's National Anthem in flawless Sinhalese.