Pregnant women at risk without iron and vitamin supplements
Pregnant women are among those badly affected by an acute shortage of vitamins and supplements.
Wattala resident I. S. Perera, who is six months pregnant, told the Sunday Times, that she had not been given iron tablets.
A midwife in her area has only been able to issue a few vitamin and calcium pills in May claiming that the batch of pills will expire at the end of the month, she said.
A midwife in Kelaniya, who declined to be named, confirmed that some midwives were facing difficulties providing iron pills and vitamins for pregnant women.
She said pre gnant women of low-income families depend on Thriposha, vitamins and other medication. In most areas, lowincome pregnant women are not even getting nutrition packs.
Contracep t ive pills, strips, and other birth control devices are out of stock, she said.
She has had to ration the issue of birth control devices.
A senior medical official said that a lack of birth control pills could result in a surge of pregnancies.
Government Midwives Association president Devika Kodituwakku said they met with Health M i n i s t e r, Ke h e l i y a Rambukwella and told him of the shortage of vitamin, iron tablets Thriposha.
He had said the Thriposha Company which comes under the Ministry of Education should be acquired by the Health Ministry to resume supplies.
Ms Kodituwakku said pregnant women should eat more vegetables and fruit.
Mr Rambukwella told the Sunday Times that he had instructed that a sufficient amount of vitamins and devices be provided within the next couple of days.
Payments will be made for medicines and vitamins and it would take a couple of days to distribute.
“Even though some medicines are unavailable, there is always a substitute. Actually some people are exaggerating the issue out of proportion, which is not the real case. The issue will resolve in few days,” he said.