National Malaria programme marks its centenary
Suraj A Bandara
The National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) which contributed to
curb and total eradicate the Malaria epidemic in Sri Lanka completed 100
years of its establishment yesterday.
The NMCP was established on May 5, 1911 when Sri Lanka was affected
with the malaria epidemic resulting in more than 80,000 deaths. The
British who then ruled the country initiated a national programme to
control the epidemic in the island.
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A book titled 100 Years of Malaraia Control Efforts in Sri
Lanka authored by Dr. Supriya Warushawitana was presented to
Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena at the Sri Lanka
Foundaion Institute yestaerday. Health Ministry Additional
Secretary Dr. Palitha Mahipala, Deputy Director General Dr.
Sunil Settinayake, Dr. S. Siyambalagoda, NMCP Director S.
Deniyage and national coordinator Dr. Rabindra Abeysinghe
look on. Picture by Nissanka Wijerathne |
The initial objective of the programme was to treat the malaria
patients and control the spread of the disease. The census carried out
on malaria cases in Sri Lanka revealed that around 1.5 million malaria
infected patients out of whom over 80,000 died, were reported in 1934.
All villagers in certain areas in the North Central Province were
badly affected by the epidemic and they found no one to bury the corpses
since all had died in the village. The crocodiles in lakes had come to
villages to grab the dead bodies.
By 2010, only 684 malaria patients were reported in Sri Lanka and no
death has been reported during the last ten years yet. This tremendous
achievement is a testament to the progress of the healthcare system in
the country.
The people who were behind this progress journey were honoured at a
function presided over by Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena at the
Sri Lanka Foundation Institute yesterday.
The health officials were presented with gifts while schoolchildren
who secured places in the art competition held parallel to the centinary
celebrations of the National Malaria Control Programme also walked away
with certificates and presents.
The Health Minister addressing the gathering said he was also a
victim of malaria in his childhood and suffered allergic coudition for a
long period. He pointed out the need for a special programme to bring
all mosquito control programmes together to face the threat.
He said he also witnessed many malaria patients reported from
Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Ampara during his childhood.
Health Ministry Additional Secretary Dr. Palitha Mahipala, Deputy
Director General Dr. Sunil Settinayake, Dr. S. Siyambalagoda, NMCP
Director S. Deniyage and national coordinator Dr. Rabindra Abeysinghe
were also present. |
