The Health Ministry has introduced a special variety of biscuits to improve the nutritional levels of the estate sector children, Health Ministry sources have said.
Health sources said, the biscuits were intended to combat malnutrition among these children which is said to be lower than in most parts of the island. Health Minister Dr Rajitha Seneratne last week handed over the first batch of biscuits to the estate superintendents in the Kalutara district, at a ceremony, and will be distributed to all estate sector children between the ages, 2-5. Addressing the gathering, the Minister was quoted as saying that the biscuits would be given three times a week and will provide the required nutrition to the children. In addition, Thriposha and folic acid were also being provided for all lactating mothers, free of charge, to improve their nutrition levels.
MPs sign pledge to endorse health for all
Over 50 Members of Parliament last week signed the pledge at the conclusion of the session “Health for all in Sri Lanka – Role of Parliamentarians in achieving Universal Health Coverage ( UHC) organised by the Sri Lanka Medical Association ( SLMA) held at the Parliamentary complex at Sri Jayewardenapura , Kotte. The interactive discussions included several presentations which brought several serious issues to the fore. SLMA President Dr Ruvaiz Haniffa, while commending Sri Lanka’s remarkable health achievements, brought out data from a six year study which found that while people in Sri Lanka had different health issues many were missing out on health coverage. He said, UHC was about ensuring quality health services where and when they were needed and this was where parliamentarians played an important role, with similar views echoed by WHO spokesperson Dr Palitha Abeykoon and other speakers.
Call to halt diabetes epidemic
Deputy Medical Director National Diabetes Centre ( NDC) of the Diabetes Association of Sri Lanka ( DASL) , Dr Chamari Warnapura last week highlighted the urgent need to prevent diabetes and avoid catastrophic consequences. Opening a UN interactive hearing on the prevention and control of diabetes, she noted that the disease burden in Sri Lanka was high with nearly one in four persons afflicted. Detailing the disastrous fallout of the disease, she said it could lead to heart attacks, strokes, blindness, and kidney disease, among other serious health issues. NCD Honorary Director Dr Mahen Wijesuriya, endorsing her views said, there was a need to create health promoting environments that offer healthy choices to people along with safe open spaces for walking, cycling and running and strengthen health literacy through public awareness and education, highlighting non communicable risk factors and how to identify them.
ADB to give shot in the arm for Lanka’s health sector
The Asian Development Bank ( ADB) has agreed to invest in a company that provides dialysis and ancillary services for end stage renal disease, and help in establishing critical health care infrastructure in India and Sri Lanka. With its already large base of dialysis centres equipped with dialysis machines in the subcontinent, Sri Lankans can look forward to faster, affordable treatment in the near future.
Clean Air 2020 Action Plan formulated
An action plan for the preservation of air quality in Sri Lanka which has been prepared following a proposal by President Maithrapala Sirisena in his capacity as Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment received approval of the Cabinet of Ministers. According to the proposal , a monitoring committee and technical committee will be appointed to regulate the activities of the air quality maintenance project and water resources quality testing project
The Central Environment Authority ( CEA) in keeping with the Government’s policy to identify the factors that pollute water resources as a matter of high priority, will initiate a project to test water quality of inland water resources. Polluted water from plastic, heavy metal and chemicals has recently raised concerns among health authorities who welcomed the 2 year project starting in 2019 -2020 which was submitted to the Cabinet by President Sirisena in his capacity as Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment.
Batticaloa Teaching Hospital gets new Accident & Trauma Unit
Health Minister Dr Rajitha Senertne and several ministerial officials opened a fully equipped Accident and Trauma Unit at the Batticaloa Teaching Hospital last week, under the Emergency and Accident Project ( BEAP) by the Government. The centre comes with a modern emergency reception area , accident evaluation facility and four well equipped operating theatres, recovery rooms and 86 beds .