WHO praises Sri Lanka

Nadira Gunatilleke

The World Health Organization (WHO) lauded the Sri Lankan government for taking prompt action in connection with implementing the recommendations in the WHO Report of Chronic Kidney Disease spreading in certain parts of the country, a Health Ministry spokesman said.

The spokesman said WHO Country Representative Dr Firdosi Rustom Mehta had stated that the Sri Lankan government made a significant contribution towards the three year study conducted by the WHO to find the cause for the rapidly increasing chronic kidney disease in the North Central Province and other areas in the country.

Implementing recommendations in the WHO report, the Sri Lankan government stopped importing insecticides Propanyl, Carboryl and Chloropyriphos to control Chronic Kidney Disease. Arrangements will also be made to minimise the use of Triple Super Phosphate (TSP) fertiliser with a high cadmium content.

Dr Mehta said even rich Balkan countries were unable to find out the reason for the rapidly increasing chronic kidney disease.

“Sri Lanka found the cause for this. President Mahinda Rajapaksa personally intervenes in the efforts of controlling communicable and Non Communicable Diseases and to upgrade the nutrition of the people. The efforts by Sri Lanka to develop the health sector are highly commendable,” he said.

Dr Mehta expressed those views during the regional consultation to finalise the framework on health in all policies for South East Asian in Colombo with the participation of representatives from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Maldives, Bhutan, Indonesia, Nepal, Thailand and Myanmar.

The South East Asian Regional Office of the WHO decided to hold the meeting in Colombo.