Eleven Health Ministers In The South And South East Asia Region Including Sri Lankan Health Minister Adapted A Colombo Declaration To Combat Against NCD's

Eleven Health Ministers representing South And South East Asia Region including Sri Lankan Health Minister had today (05) adapted a "Colombo Declaration"which calls for strengthening the delivery of services for non communicable diseases(NCD's) which killed 8.5 million people Annually in the South East Asia Region at the primary health care level.

"Accordingly high risk populations must be provided all opportunities to access screening and treatment in the region "The Director of World Health Organization (WHO) for South East Asia Region Dr.Poonam Ketrapal Singh has stated.

"This is an important opportunity to reaffirm the commitment to the global goal of reducing non communicable diseases related premature mortality by one third by 2030" she has stressed.

Under the Colombo Declaration Health Ministers in the region committed themselves to advocating for innovative financing methods including dedicated taxation  of health damaging commodities such as tobacco,alcohol,unhealthy  food and beverages it has been revealed.

The Colombo Declaration has been adapted on the first day of the Health Ministers Summit of the South and South East Asia Region which was inaugurated today (05).

QUOTES FOR LIFE

Train Services At Upcountry Railway Line Suspended Due To A Derailment Of "Podi Manike"Train

The Train Services at the Upcountry Railway Line had been suspended this evening following the derailment of Colombo-Fort bound "Podi Manike"Train from Badulla between Hatton -Kotagala Raiway Line.

The steps are being taken to restore the train services at the Upcountry Railway Line at earliest the Railways Control Room has announced.

South And South East Asia Regional Health Ministers Summit Has Been Inaugurated

The South and South East Asia Regional Health Ministers Summit has been  Inaugurated this morning at Nelum Pokuna Theater in Colombo by the Prime Minister Ranil Wikramasinghe .

Eleven Health Ministers of the regional countries namely Sri Lanka,India,Bangladesh,Bhutan,Nepal ,Thailand,Myanmar,East Timore,Indonesia,Maldives and North Korea  are participating this five day summit scheduled to be held at Galle Face Hotel in Colombo up to 09th of September(Friday).


The Director General Of World Health Organization(WHO) Dr.Margaret Chan ,the Director Of South East Asia Region of WHO Dr.Poonam Kethrapal Singh and Sri Lankan Health Minister Dr.Rajitha Senaratne along with around 200 local and regional Health Officials were participated at the inauguration ceremony.

Sri Lankan Government Spending Rs.147 Billion Annually To Treat Patients Suffering From Non Communicable Diseases-Health Minister Dr.Rajitha Senaratne At The South And South East Asian Regional Health Ministers Summit

Sri Lankan government is spending Rs.147 billion annually to treat Patients hospitalized due to the Non Communicable Diseases and out of it Rs.72 Billion allocated for treating diseases caused due to smoking according to Minister Of Health,Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine Dr.Rajitha Senaratne.

Due to this fact the Present  Government has taken steps to introduce new regulations to combat the spreading of Non Communicable Diseases in Sri Lanka and accordingly a cabinet proposal was submitted to the Cabinet to increase the  percentage imposed on Cigarettes from 72% to 90% the Minister has stated.Also a 15% VAT will be imposed on Cigarettes to further deter the smoking among Sri Lankan population he has stressed.

"I have made a proposal to the Government to impose taxes on Sugar,Oil and Salt which are identified as major risk factors for spreading Non Communicable Diseases in Sri Lanka.The Health Ministry has managed to introduce sugar coated traffic light system a color code to display contained sugar levels in soft drinks available in the market with effect from 01st of August"Minister has revealed at the Press Conference held for local and foreign media personal at the Nelum Pokuna Theater in Colombo yesterday(05) regarding the ongoing South and South East Asian Health Ministers summit.

As Sri Lanka has introduced a law to display pictorial warnings on tobacco related diseases by covering 80% of the Cigarette Pack Surface ,a proposal also has been  made to remain the 20% surface of Cigarette Packs blank it has been revealed.

Through these regulations Sri Lanka is expected to reduce the spreading of Non Communicable Diseases by 10% in the year 2020,By 20% in the year 2025 and more than 25% in the year 2030 the Minister has  further added.

HEALTH TIP

'SEATED WOMAN IN GREEN'(1901) A POPULAR ARTWORK OF YESTERYEAR SPANISH ARTIST PABLO PICASSO(1881-1973)