News

Leprosy cases in SL increase in 2023

Published

2 weeks ago

September 7, 2023

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Sri Lankan health officials have observed a significant increase in leprosy cases in 2023.

Officials said that a total of 864 patients were detected during the first seven months of the year, and 161 of these patients were from Colombo.

The Anti Leprosy Campaign at Sri Lanka’s Health Ministry said that 47 leprosy patients were recorded from the Egodawela MOH zone alone.

In a media briefing held last month, the Health Promotion Bureau stated that the highest number of Leprosy patients recorded this year were found from the Moratuwa area in Colombo District.

Speaking at the media briefing, Moratuwa MoH Manjula Thillakaratne had said that 51 Leprosy patients were recorded from Moratuwa and 08 of them were children under the age of 14 years.

Dr. Prasad Ranaweera from the Anti Leprosy Campaign said an awareness campaign will commence in the Western Province next week.

Although Sri Lanka eliminated leprosy in 1995, after having achieved the elimination target of less than one case of leprosy per 10,000 of the population, recent statistics point to a rising trend in leprosy incidence, said the World Health Organization (WHO) in January 2023.

Sri Lanka has been recognized by WHO as one of 23 “global priority countries” for Leprosy, emphasizing the need for targeted efforts to sustain elimination status and a final push towards ending Leprosy in the country.

News

Excise officials kidnap beedi businessman & forcefully take Rs.1mn

Published

57 mins ago

September 22, 2023

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The Walasmulla Police have launched an investigation into an incident where a Beedi businessman was kidnapped and assaulted before forcefully taking Rs.1 million from him.

The business license of the businessman residing in Maraketiya, Rajapuragoda in Walasmulla expired on June 26. A team of excise officials including the OIC of the Tangalle Excise Unit had arrived at his house on September 18 and seized the Beedi leaves.

Excise officials had demanded Rs.1.4 million from the businessman not to take legal action in this regard.

They had taken the businessman away in a three-wheeler, beaten him up, and then had taken an amount of Rs.1 million by force.

News

Test kits ordered to detect ‘Nipah’ virus

Published

2 hours ago

September 22, 2023

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Steps have been taken to import special test kits needed for the detection of ‘Nipah’ virus, the Health Ministry said.

Special test kits recommended by the World Health Organization have been ordered to detect the virus and they are expected to arrive in Sri Lanka in a few days.

Commenting further, Virologist Dr. Janaki Abeynayake said that no specific treatment or vaccine has been developed globally for patients infected with Nipah virus.

However, Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Samitha Ginige said that there is no high risk of the virus spreading among countries since the virus spreading pace is slower.

The Ministry requested the public not panic over the virus that has been reported in several countries including India.

News

Keheliya & ministry officials undertake 50 foreign tours

Published

3 hours ago

September 22, 2023

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Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and the officials of his Ministry had undertaken 50 foreign tours in one year, a report prepared by the International Health Division of the Ministry revealed.

These reports have been compiled by Deputy Director General (Planning) of the Health Ministry Dr. S. Sri Dharan.

It was prepared following a Right to Information (RTI) request made by an organisation called ‘Citizens Power Against Bribery and Corruption.’

Accordingly, Health Minister Rambukwella has made five foreign trips, Health Secretary Janaka Sri Chandragupta has made two foreign trips and Health Services Director General Asela Gunawardena has made four foreign trips.

These foreign trips have taken place as per the invitations made by representative organizations including the World Health Organization, and those organizations have provided expenses for air tickets, food and accommodation facilities.

Furthermore, the International Health Division of the Ministry of Health has approved foreign duty leave for these doctors and has also given them a casual allowance.

Interestingly, the deputy director general who prepared the report has engaged in the highest number of foreign trips.

Source – Aruna