UNICEF commends Lanka in report

Nadira Gunatilleke

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka has come in for high praise in the State of the World’s Children 2007 report published by UNICEF for successfully controlling epidemics and seacoasts achieved in respect of several health indicators, a Health Care and Nutrition Ministry spokesman said.

He said according to the report, Sri Lanka has very successfully controlled epidemics and HIV/AIDS. The HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in Sri Lanka has remained at 0.1 per cent during the past 15 years.

Sri Lanka is also among the 16 countries which have the least number of HIV/AIDS patients under the age of 15. It has also showed a significant improvement in controlling iodine deficiency related illnesses by promoting the use of iodised salt. The use of iodised salt has gone up by 94 per cent. The report also states the patient-doctor ratio is also low Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka is placed 137th in the infant mortality rate among 287 countries. In 1996, Sri Lanka was 26th among the countries with the least number of infants’ death (infants under the age of one). Sri Lanka is presently in the 12th place.

Sri Lanka is also 11th among countries where child deaths occur at birth. The average lifespan of a Sri Lankan has increased up to 74 years.

The percentage of the children in the 20 to 22 month age group nourished by breast milk has gone up to 73 per cent. The supply of drinking water too has gone up by 94 per cent.

It has increased by 98 per cent in the urban and 74 per cent in rural areas.

Commenting on the report, Health Care and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva stated that Sri Lanka has achieved the best results due to the large funds allocated for the health sector in the annual budget.

According to the minister, Rs. 65,000 million has been allocated for the health sector this year while it was Rs. 52,000 million last year. The ministry has supplied adequate human resources and other requirements to all hospitals and it is also a reason for this success, he added.