Five Hundred Fifty Thousand In Sri Lanka Suffering From Low Vision And Blindness

Around 550,000 people in sri lanka are suffering from low vision and blindness Deputy Director General of Health Services (Public Health) Dr.Sarath Mahipala said yesterday(30).Out of this number their are 400,000 people with low vision and 150,000 with blindness he said.Also around 57,000 people are suffering from Cataract and 6000 with Diabetic Retinopathy he further added.

Around 45 million people in the world are suffering from blindness and 276 million with low vision according to the statistics.Ministry of Health in collaboration with the private sector is planning to conduct pre eye care tests for 4 million school children from next year he stressed.

Maligawatta Police Prevent Using of Loud Speakers For Dengue Prevention

Officials of the Public Health Division of the Colombo Public Health Department yesterday(29)stop Educating people in the Maligawatta area on Dengue after the Maligawatta Police prevent them of using Loud Speekers for Educating people on the Disease.Siting Noise Pollution Maligawatta Police prevent the officials of using Loud Speakers a Spokesman of the Public Health Division of Colombo Public Health Department Said.

One Died and Twenty Six injured Due To A Train Accident At Ganemulla

One Died and Twenty Six others got Injured when two trains were collided each other at the Ganemulla Railway station this evening.Fort to Kandy and Fort to Polgahawela Trains were collided in this Incident.

Thats What Friends Are For - Video

Air Force Jets Destroyed Female Black Tiger Training Center

Fighter Jets of the Sri Lanka Air force Destroyed the LTTE'S Female Black Tiger Training Center run by LTTE Leader Pottu Amman at east of Dri Arukulam in the Kilinochchi District around 12.15 p.m Yesterday (27) Security sources said. Meanwhile Security Forces captured 1.5 Kilo Meters of Nachchikuda area in the Aranayakulam Road this evening and 1o LTTE Cadres and 2 soldiers were killed during the confrontation.

More And More Patients Are Hospitalising Due To Receiving Wrong Drugs

The cases of Patients who are hospitalising due to suffering from various ailments after taking the wrong Drugs issued by the Unqualified Pharmacist in the Private Pharmecies for the prescriptions are in increase according to the Ministry Of Health.One patient hospitalised due to a ailment caused by the Drug "Methane" issued by the unqulified pharmacist for the "Metfomene" prescribed by the Doctor for Diabetese and another patient Received Lithium Carbonate which is prescribed for Epilepsy instead of the Calicium Carbonate Tablets prescribed by the doctor for his Calcium Deficiancy syndrome Ministry Official said.There are lot of incidents happend like this in the past few months he added.

Health Ministry is currently training some 800 pharmecists for the private sector to curb this unqualified pharmecists menace he said.Our target is to train 3000 qualified pharmacists for the private sector he revealed.Also Health Ministry decided to amend the Cosmetic,Devices and Drugs act No.27 of 1980 giving powers to closed down Pharmecies running without a qualified pharmacists and without a license he said.

Sri Lankan Doctors Faced Problems After Health Ministers Statment Charged GMOA

Sri lankan doctors who are seeking post graduate training in foriegn countries not able to find a suitable place due to the Irresponsible statement made by the Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva regarding the doctors in the third world countries who are not return to their motherland after their postgraduate training in Developed Countries Assistant Secretary of the Government Medical Officers Association(GMOA) Dr.Upul Gunasekara Said Yesterday(26).Addressing a Press Briefing at A GMOA Office in colombo Dr.Gunasekara further Said that the Health Minister Should Examine the causes for not returning of these doctors and implement a method to bring them back instead of trying to undermine them by saying Developed Countries should Expel them. Even India who are sending trained doctors to the developed countries in large scale crticized the Sri Lankan Health Minister's Statment he added.
GMOA yesterday sent a Letter to the President,all the cabinet ministers and to the party leaders opposing the above Statment made by the Sri lankan Health Minister at a World Health Organization meeting held in London last weak.
There are around 400 Sri lankan Doctors who are staying in developed countries after completed their Post Graduate Training and 1500 Doctors who are training as specialists Dr.Gunasekara further added.

Penicillin Proved To Be Bacteria Ressistant

Surveillance conducted at the Borella Lady Ridgway Hospital revealed that the ninty percent of Bacteria Isolations are Ressisted to the Anti Biotic Drug Penicillin.Earlier known as the "Wonder Drug "Penicillin is now not an effective Drug as early days said Paediatrician Professor Sanath Lamabadusuriya.Therefore Lady Ridgway Hospital only uses the penicillin when there is an urgent situation Doctors of the hospital said.

According to the Surveillance some other High active Anti Biotics also emerging as bacterial ressistant.

How ever when contacted a Higher Official of the Ministry of Health said That still Government is importing the Drug Penicillin for the Government Hospitals as Doctors Prescribing it and upto now no complaints has been recieved by the Ministry questioning the effectiveness of the drug.Even other countries are still using the Penicillin he further stressed.

Deaths Due To Dog Bites Are On Increase

Twenty four deaths reported throughout the Island from January this year upto now due to Dog Bites Deputy Director General of the Health Services (Public Health)Dr.Sarath Mahipala said yesterday(24).Last year there were 28 deaths due to Dog Bites he said.Out of 2.5 million dog population in sri lanka Ninty Percent are Stray Dogs he stressed.

According to the official statistics around 2000 Dog Bites were reported throughout the island annually.470,000 Dogs were vaccinated against Rabies this year upto now and the World Health Organization is allocating Rs.91 million for vaccinating another 200,000 Dogs by next year he further added.Government spend around Rs.500 million for treating dog bitten wounds and only Rs.100 million allocated from the budget for the Anti Rabies Campaign activities for this year.

GMOA On War Against the Health Minister

Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA)Fired Bullets Yesterday(22)against the Statement made by Health Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva saying that the Doctors attached to the Third World Countries including Sri Lanka who are not returning to their motherland after completing their Post Graduate Training in Developed Countries should Expel to their Countries."We are sending a Letter to the Cabinet Ministers and to the Leaders of the Opposition parties opposing to this irresponsible statement made by the health minister undermining our doctors during a Summit held in London last weak" says Dr.Upul Gunasekara the Assistant Secretary of the GMOA.This letter is due to send on this thursday(25) according to Dr.Gunasekara.
Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said that the Doctors of the Third World Countries who are not returning to their motherland after completing their Post Graduate Training either expel to their respective countries or developed countries should repay the amount spent to producing these doctors for their home countries due to not getting the services of these doctors after training.Sri Lankan Government is spending Rs.2 Million For producing a Specialist Doctor according to the Health Minister.Minister made this remarks at a World Health Organization Summit held in London to Make an International Convention for such a move.

Leptospirosis Become An Epidemic

During the 20 day period From 31st of August to 19th of September 675 Leptospirosis patients reported throughout the Island and out from this 32 were died due to the illness Health Ministry Sources said yesterday(22).This is a rapid increase of the disease within a short period of time and With this number altogether 4500 leptospirosis patients were reported and 150 were died this year up to now the sources further revealed.Leptospirosis is a dissease caused by the bacteria contains in the urine of Rats,pigs an.When this urine flows into the canals,and paddy fields the people who are contacted this rat's urine through their skin will get the dissease Doctors said.

According to the Dr.Pradeep Kariyawasam around 18 leptospirosis patients were reported from the colombo city alone this year upto now citing doubts that not only Rats who are in these canals and paddy fields also in side the houses may also contributed to the increase of the leptospirosis.

Sumith Abeysinha The New Secretary to the Treasury

President Mahinda Rajapaksha today (18) appointed Mr.Sumith Abeysinha as the new Secretary to the Treasury after the former Secretary Dr.P.B Jayasundara has resigned from his post yesterday(17).

Sixty Nine Killos of Prepared Old Curries and Noodles destroyed in the Colombo University Canteen

Chief Food Inspector of the Colombo Municipal Council Mr.Piyadasa Edirisinha yesterday (16) Destroyed 69 killos of Pre Cooked Curries,Noodles and Rotten Fruits at the Canteen belongs to the Colombo University's Art Faculty.These curries and noodles that were destroyed said to be stored inside the Deep Freezer of the canteen from more then a month and they were heat and given to the Faculty students to eat.
The Public Health Department of the Colombo Municipal Council is decided to take legal action against the Canteen owner of the Arts Faculty in this regard.The Curries that were destroyed including four killos of Spinach,five killos of cabbages, five killos of ash plantains, five killos of different kind of yam,three killos of nokole five killos of coconut sambol,one killo of tomatoes one killo of beetroot.five killos of noodles five killos of Rotten and Raw Tomatoes five killos of plantains and Twenty killos of Rotten papaya also destroyed.The samples of Cooked Rice taken from the Arts Faculty Canteen and the Canteens of the Science and Management Faculties handover to the Laboratory for tests Mr Edirisinha who is conducting investigations in this matter revealed.

Health Minister Forward a Cabinet Paper To Build A National Speech and Hearing Center

Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva put forward a cabinet paper regarding the construction of National Speech and Hearing Center at Narahanpita with the courtasy from Telecom Malaysia.Telecom Malaysia will be spending Rs.1000 million for the building of above center which will be catering sri lankans who are suffering Speech and hearing problems free of charge and also providing treetment and surgical facilities.

Cabinet sent the cabinet paper forwarded by the health minister to the treasury to observing the cost of this project and after return it cabinet will approve the paper Health Ministry official said.Telecom Malaysia is expected to build this Speech and Hearing Center within 18 months and due to handover it to the Ministry Of Health.

One Hundrad Sixty Thousand Sri Lankan School Children Suffering From Eye Disorders

Around one hundrad sixty thousand school children out of four million student population in sri lanka are suffering from eye disorders Deputy Director General of Health Services(Public Health)Dr.Sarath Mahipala said.The low nutritional level of these students is identified as the major cause for developing eye disorders Dr.Mahipala urged.Due to the eating of fast foods instead of eating nutritional valued food items such as vegetables and fruits it was reported that the nutritional status of school children is low.

Health Ministry launched a Pre Eye Test Programme for the school chidren who are already developed eye disorders and those who need to wear spectacles will be provided them from next year Health Ministry sources said.The ministry is planning to conduct these Pre Eye Tests for estimated two million school children from next year with the assistance from the private sector.One million rupees allocated for this purpose.

North Central Province Docs to launch a token strike

All Doctors attached to the North-Central Province are decided to launch an one day token strike on 17th of this month over not paying their On Call Allowance from three months Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) announced yesterday(11).Some 500 Doctors attached to the all hospitals in Anuradhapura and the Pollonaruwa Districts will Join this Strike scheduled to be held at 8 a.m on the 17th till 8 a.m on the 18th of September Dr.Upul Gunasekara the Assistant Secretary of the GMOA said during a media briefing held yesterday(11).
The talks held with the Health Ministry Officials over this allowance failed he revealed.
Even the Docs of the Anuradhapura General Hospital receiving this monthly on call allowance since it's inception they too have decided to join the strike to support the demands of their colleagues Dr.Gunasekara stressed.

Over 30 000 Quacks Practicing as Doctors in Sri Lanka

There are more then 30,000 Quacks Practicing as Doctors in Sri Lanka according to the recently concluded survey Government Medical Officers Association(GMOA) Said.Sri lanka is having the highest number of Quack Doctors in the world Dr.Upul Gunasekara the Assistant Secretary of the GMOA said at a Media Briefing held today(11)..
According to the GMOA Assistant Secretary The Ministry Of Health is turned Blind Eye on this Issue even after informing on this to them and to the Legal Department and to the Police.

The majority of the Ilegal Abortions out of over one thousand Ilegal Abortions performed daily in sri lanka are done by these quacks Dr.Gunasekara stressed.These quacks are not having a basic knowledge on the medicine and due to the prescribing overdose of paracetamol by them caused parents to admitt their children to the Intensive Care Unit of the Lady Ridgway Childrens Hospital and large number of such cases reported in the past he said.

These quacks are said to be using the Registered numbers of the Doctors who passed away and the numbers of present MBBS Doctors for their practice He further added.If the Ministry Of Health is form a certain plan to catch these quacks GMOA will give their fullest support Dr.Gunasekara furher said.

Ajantha Mendis received an ICC Award

Sri Lankan Spinner Ajantha Mendis awarded as The Best Emerging Cricket Player of the Year by the International Cricket Council (ICC)in their Annual Awards Ceremony held last night at Dubai.this is the first time that a Sri Lankan Cricketer received an Individual Award at the ICC Awards.

Air Force Jets attacked LTTE Inteligence center in Kilinochchi

Sri Lankan Air Force Jets attacked the LTTE'S Intelligence Center located in Kilinochchi this morning while there was a high profile Rebel meeting underway there.The Air Raid was Successful Air Force said.However the LTTE said Air Force attacked a civilian settlement in Kilinochchi this morning and 12 houses were destroyed.

Bomb Exploded in Mount Lavinia-No one Injured

There was a Bomb Explosion at the Seram Place in Mount Lavinia area few hours ago.No one is injured and police said that the explosion was occurred in the rail track and believed to be a small bomb.

LTTE attempt to destroy Vavuniya Air Base and Wanni Security Headquarters failed

Sri Lankan Forces successfully defeated the LTTE attempt on attacking Air Base in Vavuniya and the Security Forces Headquaters in Wanni by using light Air Crafts and ground troops this morning(09).LTTE Air Crafts trying to destroy the air base in Vavuniya and two of their light Air Crafts came for the Mission.but forces fought back and destroyed one LTTE Air craft in the Mulathiv skies when the two air crafts fled after an unsuccessful mission .10 Rebels and 10 soldiers were killed during the confrontation and 23 soldiers were injured.One police constable also killed and 8 injured during the fight.5 force personals also sustained injuries. LTTE also used artillery fire but sri lankan forces able to crush the rebels ground assault completely.
Meanwhile Government today ordered UN Agencies , all other Non Governmental Organizations and International Non Governmental Organizations who are involved in relief work in Vanni to vacate from the area due to the heavy fighting underway there between the Govt.Forces and the LTTE Rebels.Government can't assure their security Government offical said.

Friends Of Ridgway Hospital to Improve the Hospital Standard

Health Staff of the Lady Ridgway Children's Hospital,Colombo formed an organaisation called "Friends Of the Lady Ridgway Children's Hospital" in the view of uplifting the Infrastructure Facilities of the hospital and to bring the hospital to the status of the Best Health Care Centre for Children in the South East Asia within the next decade.To get financial assistance in this regard Friends of Lady Ridgway Hospital organization open an account with the collaboration of the Bank of Ceylon in their Borella Super Grade Branch.the Account Number is 8364019 and those who are interested on donating money can forward them to this account according to the Director of the Lady Ridgway Hospital Dr.(Mrs) S.Yoganathan who is also the President of the organisation.She revealed this at a press briefing held today (08) at the hospital auditorium.
The First Lady Mrs.Shiranthi Rajapaksha is appointed as the Patron of this organization scheduled to be launched officialy on this Thursday(11) .

Burning Problems of Sri Lankan Consumers increased further as the prices of food items goes high

In addition to the increasing Gas Prices sri lankan consumers are suffer further due to the day to day increase of Essential Commodities including Rice and Mysore Dhal which is commonly used food item here.At present the price of Mysore Dhal stands at Rs.218 per Kilo the highest price recorded ever.Consumers are reportedly avoid buying of Mysore Dhal due to the price Merchants said.
Due to the price increase of essential commodities like Bread,Rice ,Dhal,Vegetables,fish and Meat the income of an ordinary person becomes insufficient to buy the food items and fulfill their other essential household needs.
According to the consumers they can't buy the Rice and Bread the main food items of the sri lankans due to their prices are on increase.The price of the Loaf of Bread is Rs.40 and the prices of varieties of rice are also high.The 400 grammes of Milk Powder Pack is sold between Rs.260-275, the prices of all varieties of Short eats are also increased Market sources said.
Although The Consumer Protection Authority make an arrangement to caught the merchants who are selling essential food items like Rice for higher prices then usual authorities still not able to stabalise the prices of essential food items selling in the Market.

Health Ministry declares a National Dengue Prevention Weak

Health Ministry declares the weak from 15th to 20th of this month as a "National Weak of Dengue Prevention".Dengue control activities with the participation of the public will be implemented throughout the country in this weak according to the Dr.Lakshmi Silva the director of the National Dengue Control Campaign.

Health Ministry Wants to prepare Patients Charter not Citizens Charter

Health Ministry has decided to make a Patients Charter instead of the Citizens Charter proposed by the Ministry of Public Administration to all the Government Institutions and companies in Sri Lanka.Health Secretary Dr.Athula Kahanda Liyanage already informed on this to the Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administrations.

Ministry of Public Administrations under a Special Circular Dated 20-03-2008 instructed All Government Institutions and Companies to make and present a Citizens Charter which portraying the needs and rights of the Public.

The patients Charter will catering the needs and rights of the patients and therefore no need to make another Charter Deputy Director General of Health Services(Medical Services-2) Dr.Wimal Jayantha said.

Nintey Percent of Child population in sri lanka suffering from Dental Disorders.

Nintey Percent of the Sri Lankan Child Population reported to be suffering from various forms of Dental Disorders due to the fall of the Dental Technicians Service within last ten years Health Minister Nimal Siripala Silva said yesterday.Due to the battle over the uniform of the Dental Technicians Dental Surgeons and the Dental technicians were on war and As the result of it Health Ministry was stop the training of Dental Technicians in 1998.
Since than No one is recruited for Training of the Dental Technicians.Yesterday the Ministry Of Health Recruited 100 persons for training as Dental Technicians.In Future another Batch of 300 trainees to be recruited for the Dental Technicians Service Minister De Silva Said.

Chief Ministers of the North Central and the Sabaragamuwa Provinces Sworn In

Former Chief Ministers Berty Premalal Dissanayaka and Maheepala Herath sworn in as the Chief Minsters Of the North Central and the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Councils Before President Mahinda Rajapaksha Today(03).UPFA won the recently concluded Provincial Council Elections for the two Provincial Councils.But the two former Chief Ministers not able to get higher Preferential votes against Major General Janaka Perera and Ranjan Ramanayaka who contested for the posts under the UNP ticket.

Lalith Dissanayaka to replace polgampola's parliamentary seat

Mr.Lalith Dissanayaka of the United People's Freedom Alliance(UPFA) to be nominated for the vaccant Parliamentary seat of anurudda polgampola(J.V.P) General Secretary of the UPFA ,Minister Maithipala Sirisena Said.Polgampola resigned from His parlimentary seat yesterday(03) after

found guilty of attempting Illegal emigration of a person to Japan.

J.V.P Parlimentarian Polgampola Resigned from his seat after Illegal Emigration Case

J.V.P Parliamentarian Mr.Anurudda Polgampola Resigned from his Parliamentary seat today(03) after found guilty of attempting Illegal emigration of a person to Japan,J.V.P M.P Vijitha Herath revealed. Mr.Polgampola was caught in Japan regarding this Illegal emigration few days ago when he was taken a person from falsified documents to Japan citing as his personal assistant.Both of them were arrested by the Airport Authorities in Japan and the Japanese Authorities and the Sri Lankan CID conducting an Inquiry in this regard.
Mr.Polgampola Submitted his Resignation letter to the Speaker this morning.He was believed to be involved in a racket of sending persons Illegally to Italy.

Army Captured Mallavi

Armed Forces crippled the LTTE Rebels further as they captured the whole area of Rebel hold Mallavi belongs to the Mulathivu District today(02).Troops are moving further Security Sources revealed.

Laugfs Gas also Increased

Adding Fuel to the rising Cost of living in Sri Lanka Laugfs Gas Company is to be increased the price of their 12.5 kg Gas Cylinder by Rs.189 with the effect from Midnight today.The new price of the Laugfs Gas will be Rs.1857.Shell Gas increased their prices Last Night.

Director of the National Blood Center and another Doc Interdicted over the Expired Blood Kits Scandal

The Secretary to the Ministry of Health of Sri Lanka Today(01) Interdicted the Director Of the National Blood Center Dr.(Mrs) Mangalika Bindusara and Dr.M.I.L.A Nazir attached to the Center with Immediate effect in connection with the using of controversial Expired Blood Kits.
Health Secretary taken this action under the instructions made by the Public Services Commission(PSC). PSC ordered the Health Secretary today to Interdicted these two officials after examining a report presented by the Special Investigations Bureau of the Ministry of Health in this regard. Earlier Dr.Bindusara was transfered to the Family Health Bureau and Dr Nazir was transfered to the Angoda Mental Hospital under the recommendations of the Inquiry Report to assure an unbiased and impartial inquiry.
Final Report of the Inquiry scheduled to be handover to the Health Secretary soon.