HIV spread next

The elimination of HIV transmission from mother to child is the next milestone for Sri Lanka that Regional Director Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh is “pushing” for, to be achieved next year or by 2018 the latest.

This is while she heaped laurels on Sri Lanka for the elimination of malaria, lymphatic filariasis and maternal and neonatal tetanus and having maternal and infant mortality rates on par with some of the developed countries.

Sri Lanka’s latest public health achievement in eliminating malaria was certified by the WHO at the RC Meeting, while President Maithripala Sirisena was conferred the ‘Excellence in Public Health’ Award for “his remarkable and sustained role in the public health gains of his country”.

President Sirisena was bestowed this honour for strengthening the health system and services and making commendable contributions to tobacco control, drugs regulation, health of migrants and control of chronic kidney disease. Dr. Khetrapal Singh, in an interview with

revisited her ‘flagship priority areas’ which she has set her heart on resolving in the region -- containing NCDs; measles elimination, reduction in maternal and child mortality, universal health coverage, tackling neglected tropical diseases, combating anti-microbial resistance and not only response to emergencies but also preparedness.

Having paid an unscheduled visit on Thursday to the nearly 500-bed Castle Street Hospital for Women in Colombo at which 16,000 deliveries are performed, Dr. Khetrapal Singh who was the Health Secretary of Punjab before she took up her WHO duties, commended the hospital for the service it was rendering to Sri Lankan women.