Health education training centre to be set-up here

Suraj A Bandara

An international centre to train medical professionals for the whole of the South Asian region is to be set up in Sri Lanka.

South Asian Health sector officials have collectively requested Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena to facilitate the setting up of such a centre in Sri Lanka.

Minister Sirisena was participating at an international summit on Climate Change and Health in South Asia, Dhaka, Bangladesh yesterday.

They said that Sri Lanka is the only country that imparts a sound knowledge on health studies.

From the beginning up to the completion of their health studies the government spends a huge amount to make them into experts in their specific fields, they said.

Health education in Sri Lanka is second to none in the world. The training and knowledge they have is unmatched. Therefore, Sri Lanka is the best place for a health education training centre in the South Asian region, the officials added. Minister Sirisena in response said that every possible step will be taken to establish an international health education training centre in Sri Lanka.

All students will be trained with expertise knowledge.

This will be a good opportunity for Sri Lanka to increase its foreign exchange earnings and augment its reputation in the world, the Minister said.

The Health Minister said all South Asian health officials were surprised with the methods adopted after the tsunami and the war. Thousands of displaced people were protected. This was a gigantic achievement in Sri Lankan health sector acquired, he said.