Maximum care for IDPs

Health Minister assures UN Secretary General:

Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, the current President of the World Health Assembly (WHA), met United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon in his bureau at the UN office in Geneva.

The Minister conveyed greetings from President Mahinda Rajapaksa to the Secretary General and also thanked him on behalf of the President for the support extended by the Secretary General throughout difficult situations in the country during the recent past. The Secretary General congratulated the Minister on his appointment as the President of the World Health Assembly and said the Minister's leadership is extremely crucial at this important moment in the global health arena.

The Minister briefed the Secretary General on the current situation in Sri Lanka and also explained the various measures taken by the Government and his Ministry to provide maximum care for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

Minister further explained that the Government and people in the South has taken a keen interest in providing basic needs such as food, shelter, water and sanitation and healthcare to the IDPs in the North.

He also briefed the Secretary General with regard to healthcare provided such as setting up healthcare centres in each welfare centre, posting nearly 200 medical officers for the IDPs care, posting nearly 500 nursing officers and a large number of paramedical staff.

He further explained the Ministries of Nation Building, Resettlement and Disaster Management and Human Rights are taking maximum efforts to provide the humanitarian assistance to the IDPs. Several countries and international organisations have extended their support for this purpose and the ground situation has improved considerably.

The President is taking a personal interest to look after the welfare of the IDPs and in fact he has appointed a high powered task force including a special task force for psycho-social care to oversee the matters relating to the IDP care. Minister stated that the vision of the President is to bring in National reconciliation and embarked upon a vibrant infrastructure and economic development to the North as done in the case of the Eastern Province. The Minister emphasised that the area which was under the LTTE control has to be cleared of mines to properly plan the resettlement and the reconstruction in the area.

The Minister welcomed the visit of the Secretary General and said that the Government will extend the fullest support to the success of his visit. He further stated that the Government has the fullest confidence on SG in receiving assistance for humanitarian care and supporting development and reconciliation.