Pictorial warning on cigarette packets soon

Nadira Gunatilleke

Pictorial warnings will be introduced to cigarette packets soon. President Mahinda Rajapaksa introduced the Mathata Thitha (Full stop to tobacco and alcohol) through the Mahinda Chinthanaya programee and Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena is now concerned about having to spend vast sums of money to treat alcoholics, Health Deputy Minister Lalith Dissanayake said.

Deputy Minister Dissanayake was speaking at the launching of the National Nutrition Month (June).

He said a home gardening programme is aimed at ensuring the nutrition of the family while creating a healthy nation. A a nutritional pack will be given to all eligible selected pregnant mothers as part of this programme. The state mechanism of upgrading the country's nutrition and health is in place and there are 18 line Ministries involved in improving nutrition.

"Most children are not willing to eat healthy food and have a penchant for artificial food and fast food items advertized on television using popular public figures. Today, rice eating has been increased while consumption of flour has seen a reduction. A canteen policy has been introduced for schools, but, implementation of such policies has become a challenge," he said.

Deputy Minister Dissanayake pointed out that Sri Lanka has already achieved a high position in International health indicators. Maternal and infant mortality rates in the country have gone down remarkably, while life expectancy has gone up. The coverage of the National Immunization Programme is over 98 percent. A Sri Lankan pregnant mother participates in around 10 clinics before her delivery. She takes part in the last two clinics with her husband.