Lankans average life expectancy increases

Nadira Gunatilleke

People now survive longer than before and the average life span in Sri Lanka is now more than 70 years which is longer than that of any other South Asian countries, Prof. Hiroshi Kobeyashi, MD, Sapporo Cancer Seminar Foundation, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan said.

Dr. Kobeyashi was addressing the inauguration of the seminar on `Prevention of lifestyle related diseases in Sri Lanka’ held at the Hilton Hotel, Colombo He said that in accompanying with the prolonged life span, lifestyle related diseases (Non Communicable Diseases) also increase and that these diseases are the main cause of death in Sri Lanka. NCDs may include vascular diseases in the heart and brain, and cancer in many organs and diabetics.

Ms. N. Suzuki of JICA, Sri Lanka said there are over 500 cardiovascular deaths per every 100,000 deaths in Sri Lanka and over 3,700 die annually due to Ischemic heart diseases. She pointed out the importance of rapidly increasing NCDs in Sri Lanka.

Dr. Malcolm Moore of the UICC, Tokyo Office said the Asian population is growing old and Asia is still in the early stage of developing cancer. Sri Lanka has the highest level of oral cancer in the region.

Dr. Moore said that it is important to have special safe lanes for people to walk and ride bicycles. There should be role models to stress the importance of regular work-outs. More community involvement means more success, he pointed out.

Dr. Yasantha Ariyaratne, Director, NCCP said that Sri Lanka is now in the process of population based cancer patients registration and more and more people die from Iscehmic heart diseases.

The situation is not that bad in Thailand, Indonesia and similar countries.

Dr. S. Kono of the Kyushu University, Fukoka, Japan, Dr. T. Miura of Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Japan, Dr. T. Mizoue of International Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan and several other foreign and local doctors delivered lectures on different related topics.

The seminar was sponsored by the National Cancer Control Programme, Colombo, Foundation for Health Promotion, Colombo, Rotary Club of Colombo, Sapporo Cancer Seminar Foundation, Sapporo, Japan in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Sri Lanka and Sapporo.