Health care: Lanka aiming to match developed world

Rasika Somarathna

COLOMBO: In view of realising the “Mahinda Chinthana” vision of a better quality of care to the people of Sri Lanka by strengthening and improving the Maternal and Child Health sector, 810 new family health workers and 89 Public Health Inspectors were awarded their letters of appointment by President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees yesterday.

“We need trained and skilled manpower in order to realise the health sector goals. So the appointment of these 810 new family health workers is in recognition of their outstanding contribution to my vision in uplifting the health of the rural community,” President Rajapaksa told the gathering.

Lauding the achievements in the health sector, the President emphasised that as a developing nation Sri Lanka towers above most other such countries in terms of the achievements in the health sector.

The President paid a glowing tribute to Health Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva and officials in the Health service for their outstanding contribution towards the development of the health sector.

The President also emphasised the need to improve these achievements saying Sri Lanka should aim to match the health indicators of the developed countries in the near future. President Rajapaksa emphasised the need to increase the number of midwives at the rate of one for 1,500 people as at present only one mid wife is available for 3,000.

The President said he was pleased to note that Sri Lanka has reached to the level of a developed country in the sphere of health as the country could maintain maternal and child deaths at the minimum level.

He pointed out that though some criticism is levelled against Sri Lanka for its welfare policy no one has blamed the country for setting apart funds for the improvement of the health sector.

“That is because we have reached the highest health indicators internationally through the allocation of enough funds for the improvement of the health sector,” the President asserted.He said midwives are playing a pivotal role to minimise the number of maternal and infant deaths.

“Even the World Health Organisation is appreciating the role played by midwives,” the President added. “It is better if we can achieve those successes in other sectors too to bring the country to a level of developed nation”, he added.

Health and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva emphasised the Government remained committed to preserving the free health services with all the benefits it accrues to the people, especially to children.

The Minister pointed out that Sri Lanka had achieved outstanding health indicators, specially with regard to child care attributing these achievements to the dedication of all relevant parties and emphasised the need to improve on them highlighting malnutrition as a key area.