Programme to control rabies

Dog bites are rather common in Sri Lanka, where the stray dog population, as you know, is quite high. A recent research conducted by the Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry has revealed that although around 400,000 people are bitten by dogs each year, only half of them actually seek medical treatment.

However, the number of people being treated for dog bites from government hospitals has increased in districts like Anuradhapura, Colombo, Hambantota and Ampara.

Although the method so far used to control the spread of rabies was the killing of stray dogs, the veterinary section of the Health Ministry has now decided to control the dog population by sterilisation and administration of vaccines on the dogs in the country. Accordingly, a mass-vaccination project for dogs will be carried out in these high-risk districts.

The vaccination programme will be conducted with the help of the World Health Organisation. The promotion of responsible dog ownership and vaccination of dogs on time, are the main objectives of this programme, which is aimed at minimising the 2.5 million dog population in the country.

The dogs' vaccination project was first launched in 1973; around 400 people had died of rabies during this period. Fifty people died of rabies in 2005 while only 26 have died so far this year. The government spends about Rs. 325 million for rabies control, of which half is spent for drugs on dog-bite victims.

Project to promote medicinal herbs

Minipe in the Uda Dumbara electorate is expected to be turned into a garden of paavatta or aadatoda. A large-scale paavatta cultivation project is to be launched in this area, according to a report from the Chief Minister's office of the Central Provincial Council. Paavatta is a valuable medicinal herb and can be sold to the Ayurvedic Pharmaceuticals Corporation. Thus, growing the herb would be useful to the people of the area, while farmers can also earn a living from the cultivation.

A cannon ball (sal) tree planting programme is also on the cards, with temples across the island being the venues for them, according to a report from the Environment Ministry.

Early reports had also said the Ministry of Indigenous Medicine has planned an island-wide programme for the promotion of cultivation of sandalwood plants.

Valuable ruins unearthed

The ruins of 62 ancient buildings have been unearthed during excavation work carried out at the historical Ramba Vihara in the Ambalantota DS area.

Two shrine rooms dating back to the second century BC, a vihara mandiraya, bodhigaraya, monks' quarters, a precious Buddha statue made of a rare raw material, two bowls, a golden casket of relics, a well and a pond were unearthed during these excavations.

Six such newly discovered buildings have already been conserved by the Department of Archaeology under a project funded by the Central Cultural Fund.

The historical Ramba Vihara is said to be a creation of King Maha Naga. It has housed a large number of monks in the ancient days.

Programme to tackle malnutrition

Malnutrition is a rampant problem in Sri Lanka. Although the island has done relatively well in other related areas, it has been lagging behind in the area of nutrition.

Many programmes have already been implemented to seek solutions for this problem. The latest such programme to critically analyse malnutrition in the country was launched recently, by the government, with assistance from the World Bank.

The project which intends to help the island tackle this problem is themed 'Nutrition in Sri Lanka: Rethink yesterday change tomorrow'. The support of the World Bank will be forthcoming towards building a nutritional alliance, while key development partners such as the Health and Nutrition Ministry will also be involved.

Sri Lanka has reported better health indicators than most other countries in the same income range, according to the World Bank.

The country's infant and maternal mortality (deaths) are the lowest in the South Asian region. However, the rate of underweight children are highest from among the region. In this arena, it's on par with the poorer countries in Africa. Reducing malnutrition hasn't succeeded despite the many nutrition projects implemented over the years. Although the donor agency expects the island to achieve all other Millennium Development Goals, it may not achieve the same success in the nutrition goal of halving child-underweight rates.

World Bank sources said that 29 per cent of Sri Lanka's children are underweight and that 30 per cent of women and children below the age of five years are anaemic (not enough red cells in the blood).

"We need to understand why Sri Lanka is failing in the malnutrition index and address the issues accordingly. Although the country has done much to ensure healthy births, it needs to do more towards ensuring healthy growth," World Bank sources said.

Although programmes are being carried out to ensure nutrition for schoolchildren, more action is needed to ensure that children in the first two years of their lives receive healthy nutrition.

Malnutrition is very severe among the poorer sections of society and in poorer provinces, such as Uva. It's also rife in areas affected by the conflict, where the malnutrition rate is as high as 40 per cent.

'Ran Daru' art competition under way

The Ceylinco 'Ran Daru' art competition and exhibition got under way on July 15 with an invitation to children of all ages country-wide to submit their paintings for judging by an independent panel.

The third in the series, the 2006 'Ran Daru' art competition is expected to involve more than 60,000 children from pre-school age to 18 years, the life insurance company, which organises the competition under its 'Ran Daru' policy, said.

For the first time, the event will be open to children in the pre-school category, and 50 of the best submissions in this age group will be displayed at the 'Ran Daru' art exhibition scheduled for October 7 and 8 at the Sri Lanka Exhibition and Convention Centre, Colombo, bringing the total number of paintings to be displayed this year to 500. The closing date for entries is August 31. Participants can send in their paintings to any of the 127 Ceylinco Life branches or to its office at 60, Park Street, Colombo 2.

Scholarships and prizes will be awarded in the categories of pre-school, junior (5-10), intermediate (11-14) and senior (15-18). The theme for the paintings is 'The Beauty of Nature'.

The first prize in the junior, intermediate and senior categories will be scholarships worth Rs. 72,000 in 36 monthly instalments, while the second and third prizes in these groups will be scholarships worth Rs. 54,000 and Rs. 36,000 respectively, also paid over 36 months. The best three paintings in the pre-school category will win Rs. 25,000 each.

Application forms for the competition will be available at all Ceylinco Life branch offices island-wide. Ceylinco Life representatives are also visiting schools to distribute application forms.

Laws to fight child labour

Employing children below the age of 18 in hazardous employment will be an offence, according to a law passed in Parliament recently. The new law was introduced as an amended legislation. Accordingly, any person employing children between the ages of 14 and 18 years, in hazardous employment would be liable to a term of one year's rigorous imprisonment, if they are convicted. The new law covers recruitment of children as child combatants and into the sex trade as well.

Employing children below the age of 14 years is already a punishable offence under the Penal Code.

The amendment to the law was introduced after discussions with public servants, academics, professionals, trade unions and employers.