Join hands to fight dengue

Nadira Gunatilleke

All Sri Lanka should set aside petty differences and join hands to fight the scourge of dengue, Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena said.

The Minister was addressing the inauguration of the Sub Regional Symposium for Parliamentarians on Sustainable Immunisation Financing held at the Waters Edge, Battaramulla Thursday.

Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena said he is willing to make any sacrifice to obtain required funds for the health sector and to explain requirements to international organizations such as the WHO, UNICEF and SABIN to obtain the funds. According to Minister Sirisena Sri Lanka’s National Immunization Program is very effective and paid off well by recording the lowest infant and maternal mortality rates in the region.

Sri Lanka’s health indicators improved due to the success of the immunization program. Earlier there was only one Medical College in Sri Lanka and now there are seven.

The country has world class hospitals and medical professionals, he said.

Sri Lanka has already eliminated certain diseases such as Polio and almost eliminated Malaria. The current challenge we face is defeating dengue. The National Immunization Program lost its credibility due to various arguments on some incidents that took place during the past.

The public should be educated on the importance of immunization, the Minister pointed out.

World Health representative Dr F R Mehta, Nepal Parliament’s Women Children and Social Welfare Committee Member Sandhya Devi, Indian MP Lork Kheng, Health Ministry Secretary Dr R Ruberu, SABIN Vaccine Institute Senior Program Manager Devendra Gnawali and many others spoke. Several MPs including Sudarshini Fernandopulle, Thilanga Sumathipala and Sujeewa Senasinghe were present.