The Health Ministry, the project led by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) office in Sri Lanka and the Social Services Department of the Women and Children Ministry have jointly launched a pilot project to fulfil the health needs of the elderly in the community.
A team of officials from the JICA project led by Chief Project Advisor Michiko Fujimoto met Health Ministry Secretary Dr. Palitha Mahipala to brief the progress of the project yesterday (20).
The main objective of this project is to provide opportunities for the elderly to live a quality adult life. This is a three year project started in the year 2022.
Pilot projects have been implemented in the Colombo District of the Western Province and Badulla District of the Uva Province. Accordingly, Athurugiriya in Kaduwela Division of Colombo District as well as Poregedara in Padukka Division and Kandakepuulpatha and Kivulegedara in Kandaketiya Division of Badulla District have been targeted.
According to the National Secretariat of Elderly (NSE) data, compared to the rapid growth of the world’s elderly population, the elderly population in Sri Lanka is also growing very rapidly, and it is estimated that the elderly population of Sri Lanka, which was 9.3 percent in the year 2000, will be 27.6 percent by 2050.
The Health Ministry Secretary said that it has become an essential matter to prepare a strong programme for the elderly and this project will be a great help to Sri Lankan senior citizens by providing healthcare to the elderly and providing them with a healthy and quality senior life. Many parties including the community, hospitals as well as health medical officer office authorities, stakeholders for the services of the elderly, village officers, social service officers, officers promoting the rights of the elderly, district and regional secretariat officers, public health nurses actively participated in this project.
Project Coordinator Kota Iwaki was present on this occasion.
Ishara Mudugamuwa
