Sri Lanka, a malaria-free country
The World Health Organization's (WHO) team of specialists, sent to
study the malaria situation in the country, has completed
investigations. The WHO sent this team as a prelude to declaring Sri
Lanka as a Malaria Free Country.
Health Ministry sources said the team conducted their investigations
in the Hambantota, Jaffna and Anuradhapura districts and visited state
hospitals, MOH offices and laboratories and met the public as well.
The team was headed by Dr. Chusak Prasattisuk and comprised Dr. M.
Rahman, Dr. P.L.Joshi, Dr. L. Otega and Dr. Dick Clayton.
The team has also held a special discussion with the Minister of
Health Maithripala Sirisena and other Ministry officials. Minister
Sirisena has pointed out to the team that in 1937, over 80,000 persons
died in Sri Lanka within a period of six months from malaria since, at
that time, it was spread throughout the country, affecting over 1.3
million people.
He has said that only three cases have been reported this year from
the 23 reported last year.
The Minister has also pointed out that malaria cases were detected
among foreigners arriving in the country and they were provided with
necessary treatment. -news.lk
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