Medi-Aid.. the beginning

The emergence of Medi-Aid The idea to set up an aid organization to support the poorest and underprivileged in Sri Lanka goes back to 1999 when chairman Martin Joziasse first visited Sri Lanka. There he was struck by the poverty that prevailed among a huge population group and the dire shortage of medical and nursing equipment in the local hospitals. At the same time, he realized how 'normal' it is in the Netherlands to sometimes replace complete inventories in hospitals and nursing homes with new ones over time. Once back in the Netherlands, he seized material from an institution, shipped it to Sri Lanka and donated it to local hospitals, homes for the elderly and orphanages, helping many people. The mission was there! It soon became apparent that this concept appealed to institutions and individuals, because various types of materials were made available, such as a few hospital beds, wheelchairs, walkers, a large amount of linen, clothing and cuddly toys. But not only material was offered, there were also institutions, companies and individuals who wanted to take care of the transport costs. This was the moment when it was decided to structure, coordinate and monitor the whole thing more by placing it in a Foundation that would bear the name Medi-Aid Holland / Sri Lanka from the start. In September 2002, with the acceptance and signing of the notarial statutes, the Medi-Aid Foundation was a fact and the foundation was also registered with the Chamber of Commerce in Leiden.