Health Ministry to recruit 2,500 midwives to implement Government's nutrition programme

COLOMBO: Two thousand five hundred new public health midwives will be recruited to implement the Government's programme of the distribution of nutritious food package to pregnant mothers, said Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva.

A ceremony to inaugurate the second phase of this project was held in Badulla recently. Nutrition packs valued at Rs. 500.00 each were distributed among selected pregnant mothers of 1,000 families in Rideemaliyadda and Meegahakivula DS divisions in Badulla district under the auspices of Minister de Silva.

The Minister said to alleviate poverty and the malnutrition a number of projects are being implemented by the Ministry on the initiative of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

"Pregnant mothers are given the nutrition food package worth Rupees 500 on a monthly basis for a period of nine months followed by another package worth rupees five hundred until the child reaches the age of 2 years. Between the age of two to five years yet another food package will also be introduced shortly afterwards.

All these programmes will be implemented by the Health Ministry in collaboration with the Ministries of Samurdi and Livestock Development. The Health Ministry will implement all these projects through midwives and will recruit 2,500 more public health midwives for the purpose", the Minister said.

Phase one of this programme was inaugurated in 9 selected DS divisions on April 29. Phase 02 was started yesterday in the Badulla district.

"Malnutrition among children should be alleviated to create an intelligent future generation and it has been revealed that over 15% of children are suffering from malnutrition". Realising the seriousness of this situation he said the President has initiated this useful project to eradicate malnutrition.

According to the Government's policy statement a nutritious pack will be supplied free for every mother who cannot afford the required nutrition during pregnancy and it is further mentioned to provide the necessary clinical advice and medical services to every mother at the village level.

The Minister said to carryout this noble task the Health Ministry would recruit 2,500 more midwives paving the way for smooth implementation of this programme. In concurrence with this programme two clinical centers built at Rs. 4. million were opened at Balagolla and Maliyadda in the Badulla district to provide clinical facilities.

The Athurukaduwa Road which was renovated and developed at Rs. 27 lakhs under the Uva Wellassa Development Programme for the improvement of community development activities in the district was also opened by the Minister. About 300 farmer families living in the area would get the opportunity to sell their produce directly to consumers in Meegahakivula and Badulla towns without the interventions of the middlemen thanks to the development of this roadway.