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| Sunday, 13 January 2002 |
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'100-day revolution' to eradicate malnutrition by Shanika Sriyananda Liyanage The Ministry of Health, Nutrition and Welfare, which launched its '100-day revolution' last week will fight to eradicate malnutrition among children. Of the country's total children population, over 1.8 million children, below 10-years-old, are suffering from malnutrition and other illnesses caused by lack of food. With the aim of improving the nutritional level among these children, the indigenous medicine sector of the Ministry has implemented a series of new programs at school level. Among them are the distribution of 100, 'kolakenda' sets and 100 herbal garden sets for 100 in twenty districts in which there are a significant number of children who suffer from mal-nutrition. They will be given 'kolakenda' everyday. While educating the public on using herbal plants, 100 herbal gardens will be established in 100 schools. A nutrition project will be launched for the benefit of 1,600 families in the Anuradhapura district. 'Thriposha', a nutritious food supplement for babies and lactating mothers, which is unequally distributed among the needy, will be efficiently distributed islandwide. Deputy Minister Sajith Premadasa told the media that the greatest achievement was that the Ministry had been able to retain money, which would otherwise go to the Treasury and was unutilized in any health development project during last year. "We are able to do more health development activities at village level during this short period of time from that money", he said. According to him the Ministry started its development work at village level which lack easy access for health facilities. "One hundred and forty two rural hospitals in 15 districts will be upgraded with necessary life saving equipment and drugs. The total estimated cost is Rs. 28.4 million. This is mainly to minimise deaths due to delayed treatment due to lack of necessary life saving equipment. This will also help to ease the congestion in main hospitals and to provide better health care for the rural areas", the Deputy Minister said. "Co-ordination between the institutions coming under the Ministry is vital to launch these long-term projects successfully. Inspection tours covering 100 hospitals, 100 MOH divisions and institutions come under the Ministry will be held during this period especially to have an effective co-ordination", he said. "Janasaviya' and 'Samurdhi' beneficiaries, especially the families with children under 3-years-of-old and lactating mothers, will get food supplements and other health benefits under the 'Janasuwaya' health program. In a bid to ensure a more effective and efficient health service, the National Health Council and National Health Development Committees and Provincial Health Development Committees will be restructured soon. The local production of drugs will increase by 10 percent to give a fare price for patients. The State Pharmaceutical Corporation (SPC) which is manufacturing nearly 50 drugs now, will manufacture 'Sementedene', which is an expensive drug soon. Government doctors will be educated on the effective handling of drugs and will be asked to prescribe drugs with only generic names. |
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