The newly re-furbished State Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing Corporation ( SPMC) building at Ratmalana, opened by President Maithripala Sirisena last week, built with Japanese aid, will meet 70% of the national medicinal drug demand ( an increase of 25%) compared to 43.6% in 2011, SPMC sources reportedly said. According to them, the Japanese government provided Rs 3,935 million Japanese Yen through the Japan International Cooperation Agency ( JICA) under the project, ‘Improvement of Basic Social Services Targeting Emerging Regions”.
Under this, four secondary state hospitals in the Central, Sabaragamuwa, North Western and Eastern Provinces have been provided modern facilities and equipment necessary for early detection, treatment and prevention of Non Communicable Diseases. In addition, the Health Ministry has reportedly distributed 86 ambulances among base hospitals, divisional hospitals and district hospitals in the North Central, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Northern, Uva and Eastern Provinces.
46 agreements signed with drug companies
Meanwhile, Health Minister, Dr Rajitha Seneratne has reportedly said, 46 agreements had been signed with drug manufacturing companies, with 19 of them poised to start production next March. Addressing a gathering after the inauguration of the new drug manufacturing factory at the SPMC premises, the Minister was quoted as saying that currently the SPMC produced 1.922 million units ( tablets and capsules) of medicinal drugs annually, and that the numbers would be increased to 3,337 million with the opening of the new factory. He also reportedly promised, the price of 48 expensive drugs would be reduced and the charge of private hospitals regulated, soon.
Consuming healthy food imperative
World Food Programme Representative, Brenda Barton has stressed that in Sri Lanka, particularly, the impact of consuming healthy food of which there was an abundance, was imperative. The root cause of poor nutrition and unhealthy diets will ensure that Sri Lanka keeps pace with continued opportunities of economic growth and development , she said, calling for a nutrition positive mindset starting with ourselves. Her message on World Food Day last week, was endorsed by President Maithripala Sirisena who noted in a message that approximately 180 million of the world’s population suffered from hunger, and each year, five million children in the world suffered from child malnutrition. He was also quoted as saying, it was important to have a state policy regarding production, security, quality and standards of food.
The theme of this year’s World Food Day was, ‘Zero Hunger by year 2030’. The WFP officials reportedly said, the nutritional status of the population had not improved noticeably over the last ten years and too many children lacked nutrition, in terms of quantity or quality for optimal physical and mental growth. Many women in child bearing age were said to be anaemic and too thin, leading to underweight babies who were more susceptible to disease. It was also noted, in Sri Lanka, both, children and adults, men and women were overweight and obese putting them at risk of NCDs. The officials reportedly argued, one of the recognised reasons for the poor nutrition outcome was inadequate dietary practices and behaviours linked to child care, dietary intake and feeding children during illness.
Significant drop in CKD
President Maithripala Sirisena was recently reported to have said, the number of Chronic Kidney Disease patients ( CKD) had recorded a significant drop due to the comprehensive preventive programmes implemented by the Government. Speaking at the ceremony to offer pure drinking water at the Sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, he reportedly said, the number of new kidney disease patients reported in 2016 was 3,372 which reduced to 2,478 in 2017 and 1,500 cases in 2018. At present, 500 water purification systems have been established with financial aid from the Presidential Task Force on the Prevention of Chronic Kidney Disease, with labour support from the Sri Lanka Navy.
Free breast cancer screening
The Breast Cancer Screening clinic at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka offers free screening every Thursday morning . The Narahenpitiya Cancer Early Detection Centre also offers free screening for breast cancer at its centre, open from 8.30 a.m to 4 p.m on week days. For more information call 0113159227. Women can also get themselves screened for breast cancer at their nearest Well Woman Clinic, National Cancer Programme sources have said.
Vaccination ensures healthy workforce
The 9th Annual Symposium of the Vaccine Forum of Sri Lanka reiterated the importance of vaccinations for preventing specific diseases, and ensuring the country has a healthy workforce. The Symposium attended by medical professionals, nurses and paramedical personnel covered a wide range of discussions related to the benefits of immunisation and its success in preventing specific diseases which included human rabies, chronic respiratory diseases, measles, polio and minimising risks of emerging and re-emerging diseases, including rubella in young girls.
Facebook party raid finds illegal drugs, poisonous pills
The Ratnapura Police last week arrested 24 males and 12 females at a party organised through Facebook in Durekkanda, Ratnapura, following complaints of a clash with residents of the area.
During the raid, Police reportedly recovered 530 grams of the drug Ice and 4 grams of cannabis from a 24 year old residing at Hendala , Wattala. They also reportedly recovered four poisonous pills from another 26 year old, a resident of Bombuwela, Kalutara at the party.
Playing with syringes sends students to hospital
Eleven schoolchildren who reportedly had injected themselves accidentally with syringes were admitted to the Marawila Base Hospital before being transferred to the Chilaw General Hospital, last week, sources said. Police sources were quoted as saying that one of the students had brought a set of syringes to school and during the interval the children had played with them. The school Principal was quoted as saying, the students had been rushed to the hospital and the syringes handed over to the Marawila Medical Officer of Health. Blood samples of the students are said to have been taken for medical examination.
Bed bug menace at National Eye Hospital
Patients receiving in-house treatment in several wards at the National Eye Hospital have reportedly been transferred to other wards due to bed bugs. The patients and hospital staff have been reportedly affected by this menace with the Hospital Acting Director Dr I.L.Mohomed Rifan quoted as saying that insecticides were applied twice every year to control the spread of bed bugs, after transferring patients to other wards. Meanwhile, hospital authorities have reportedly banned patients from bringing mattresses, pillows and bed sheets to prevent the spread of bed bugs.
Herbal mosquito repellent joss sticks
An indigenous mosquito repellent has been developed by K Wickramarachchi of Dehiatakandiya using medicinal herbs and other items. First distributed in the form of a capsule among friends, he improvised this production process by using an oil extractor and has now produced the repellent in the form of a joss stick, a press release of the Social Welfare and Primary Industries Ministry has reportedly stated.