280,000 To 2.8 Million Lost Days In Sri Lanka Due To Mumps Disease To Be Saved Through MMR Vaccine ?- Dr.Sudath Pieris

Through the MMR (Measles,Mumps and Rubella) Vaccine which is due to be introduced to the National Immunization Programme from 01st of October this year it will expect  to save 280,000 to 2.8 million working days which are lost due to the people affected from Mumps in Sri Lanka according to the Senior Epidemiologist Dr.Sudath Pieris.

Dr.Pieris said that 0.1 to 1 percent of the Sri Lankan Population are affected with the disease Mumps every year and that is around 20,000 to 200,000 patients annually.Due to the symptoms of Mumps people have to keep away from their offices,schools and universities for long time and this  will affect the Economy badly he stressed.

As the MMR Vaccine is introduced to the Immunization Programme the Rubella Vaccine currently administered through the programme will be stopped as the protection against Rubella Disease too provided by the new vaccine.

Addressing a Media Seminar on MMR Vaccine held in Health Education Bureau today Dr.Sudath Pieris has said that the MMR Vaccine will be given to the Children aged One Year and Three Years and the Females 16-44 years with the effect from 01st of October this year.The Government will spend Rs.200 million for importing of one million doses of MMR Vaccines required annually he further added.

US Asst.Secretary Robert O Blake Proposed To Deploying Tamil Police In Northern Sri Lanka

Visiting US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Robert O Blake today said in Colombo that the deploying of Tamil Police in the Northern Sri Lanka is important so there is no need for Sri Lankan Police to carry out these functions there.

Addressing the Journalists in Colombo today (14th) Mr,Blake has said that he was always concerned on the Human Rights situation in North especially regarding Rehabilitation and Re settlement process.Also US is very much concerned on attacks against Journalists he stressed.

US Assistant Secretary has also said that the Government needs to put an end to the Grease Devil Situation as the People in North are going through an Insecurity Situation due to this.

Chewing Of Betel Leaves Caused The Increase Of Oral Cancer Amongst Sri Lankans

The Oral Cancer among Sri Lankans are in increase due to the habit of  chewing betel leaves according to the Consultant in Community Dentistry attached to the National Cancer Control Programme Dr.Hemantha Amarasinha .Tobacco Leaves,Arecanut and Lime  which are using as sub ingredients  when chewing   Betel Leaves are also acting as Cancer Agents he stressed.

Due to this situation Dr.Amarasinha has appealed to the Sri Lankan Public to avoid of chewing Betel Leaves and the related ingredients  to prevent of getting Oral Cancer.Oral Cancer has identified as the number one Cancer amongst Male Population in Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile International Researchers have found that the Cancer Agent  "Safrole " substance is contain in Betel Leaves.

According to the latest statistics 14.1 per 100,000 Male Population  and 3.8 per 100,000 Female Population  in Sri Lanka are having  Oral Cancer.1617 Oral Cancer Patients are identified in the year 2005 according to the Dr.Amarasinha.Except the habit of Betel Chewing the other factors identified as causing  spreading of Oral Cancer amongst the Sri Lankan Population are Smoking,Liquor Addiction ,Viral Infections in side mouth and the Sun Light he stressed.

Kumar Sangakkara Won Two Awards At The ICC Awards Ceremony

Former Sri Lankan Cricket Captain Kumar Sangakkara became the first Cricketer to received two Awards at the ICC Cricket Awards Ceremony when he bagged both  ICC ODI Player of the Year Award and  LG People's Choice Award at the International Cricket Council(ICC) Awards held in London yesterday(12th).

However due to the ongoing Test Match Series held in Sri Lanka against the visiting Australian Cricket Team Sangakkara was not present at yesterday's Awards Ceremony.

11 Member Medical Team To Leave For Pakistan Tomorrow To Combat Dengue Epidemic There

A 11 member Sri Lankan Medical Team is due to leave for Pakistan tomorrow(14) to combat the Dengue Epidemic spreading in most parts of Pakistan including the state of Punjab according to the Health Ministry sources.The team compromising of 8 Medical Doctors including two Epidemiologists,2 Nursing Sisters and an Entomologist .

This Medical Team is due to stay in Pakistan around two weeks to engage in Dengue Control activities and providing treatment for the Dengue Patients according to the sources.The Team was selected after  Pakistani President Asif Al Zardari has requested from the Sri Lankan Government to send a medical team to combat Dengue menace in his country .

First Female Attorney General Of Sri Lanka Has Appointed

Solicitor General S.Eva Wanasundare has became the first ever Female Attorney General of Sri Lanka as  President Mahinda Rajapaksha  today  appointed her as the new Attorney General .

The new Attorney General was sworn in as Attorney At Law in 1977 and became State Counsel in 1979.She became the first female additional Solicitor General in 2005 according to the Government Information Department.Recently Senior Supreme Court Judge Shirani Bandaranayake was appointed as the first female Chief Justice of Sri Lanka.

Rainy Weather To Continue Till Tomorrow Eve?

The Meteorology Department has said today that the prevailing Rainy Weather Pattern experienced in most parts of the island will continue till Sunday (11) afternoon.Afterwards the wet weather conditions will gradually decreased according to the Department.

Most parts of the Country have experienced the Rainy Weather Conditions with strong winds today as well .