‘Lanka HAS achieved notable improvements in health’ | Sunday Observer

‘Lanka HAS achieved notable improvements in health’

17 September, 2017
Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne in conversation with ​WHO Regional Director for  South-East Asia Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh during the session.
Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne in conversation with ​WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh during the session.

Climate change was at the top of the agenda as the Health Ministers from the region of South East Asia met in Maldives at the 70th regional committee session held recently.

Speaking at the inauguration Sri Lanka’s Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said that the region is facing with the issues of both communicable and non-communicable diseases apart from natural disasters such as floods and landslides.

“It is important to take note of this when allocating funds to the health sector”, he said.

“The South East Asian Region (SEAR) cannot be complacent with their achievements. Sustaining them will be an equally important task. With our limited budgetary allocations and many priority health problems, it is difficult to make a significant allocation to sustain the elimination status of diseases. It is important that WHO and other partners in health such as Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria to continue their support to member countries in maintaining a comprehensive surveillance program,” he said.

Sri Lanka achieved notable improvements in the health system, such as receiving certification for the eradication of Malaria, adoption of a migration health policy, and the multi-pronged fight against NCDs by improving access to NCD screening and care through Primary Care, Health Minister said.

The minister said providing cardiac stents and intraocular lenses free of charge for those being treated at government hospitals and the reduction of the price of 48 commonly used drugs facilitating equitable access to medication among notable improvements.

Addressing another event, the minister said Sri Lanka as a country which has enjoyed universal health coverage for almost six decades, has managed to achieve impressive health indicators, especially in the areas of maternal and child health and addressing communicable diseases, supported by nearly 100 percent immunisation coverage.

Minister Senaratne said Sri Lanka has been successful in achieving polio free status way back in 1993 followed by lymphatic filariasis last year.

The country is targeting on the elimination of Rabies, mother to child transmission of HIV, measles and congenital rubella by 2020. Sri Lanka has a fairly low viral hepatitis burden below two percent.

The country can continue with this scenario by strengthening the routine immunisation programe which includes three doses of the hepatitis B vaccine, soon to be boosted with a birth dose of the vaccine based on expert opinion, he said. 

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