Malaria almost eradicated

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

Sri Lanka has almost eradicated Malaria and no Malaria deaths have been reported during last three years. It has also resulted in an unprecedented 99 per cent decrease in the reported incidence of Malaria during the last 10 years.

This was revealed by Chairman of the Executive Board of the WHO and Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva addressing a high level meeting of Global Leaders and Experts on Global Malaria Elimination held at the Wilton Park in United Kingdom recently.

Minister De Silva who was a key invitee to the meeting had stated that malaria elimination will help strengthen the country's economy.

It willcontribute to the economic betterment of all people living in Sri Lanka, particularly the people living in the Northern and Eastern Provinces of the country who have been affected by the ongoing conflict and malaria during the last couple of decades.

He had highlighted Sri Lanka's efforts in reducing the Malaria burden despite an ongoing conflict affecting the country.

He explained to the experts how the Sri Lankan Government always considered it a priority to control Malaria and continually sent medicines, insecticides and other requirements to the population living in the uncleared areas during the past twenty five years despite the ongoing conflict. These efforts and activities carried out by healthcare staff attached to the line and Provincial ministries had resulted in the successful control of Malaria. The country has achieved several Millennium Development Goals relating to health ahead of target dates, he added.

With the defeat of terrorism in the country the Government will be able to launch an effective and sustainable program to eliminate Malaria from the country, paving the way for the economic upliftment of affected rural communities throughout the country and particularly in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

The twin benefits of defeating terrorism and Malaria elimination will open the doors to economic prosperity for the rural agricultural workers of the country and will contribute to bringing about a lasting solution to terrorism in the country, the Minister had stated.

The meeting for the Global Leaders was attended by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Sir Richard Feecham of the Global Health Group, Ray Chambers, the special UN Envoy for Malaria, Robert Zoellick, President, World Bank, Admiral Tim Zeimer, Coordinator, Presidents Malaria initiative, high level officials from the World Health Organisation and the Roll Back Malaria initiative.