Japan provides USD 1 Mn to procure essential nutrition packs to pregnant and lactating mothers in Lanka

The Government of Japan has provided USD one million humanitarian assistance to procure essential nutrition packs through Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS) for pregnant and lactating mothers in Sri Lanka.

Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka Hideaki Mizukoshi attended a handover ceremony at Kolonnawa Divisional Secretariat Office recently (Dec 19) to provide the nutrition packs to the local community procured by SLRCS in the presence of Dr. Sunil De Alwis, Additional Secretary of Medical Services of the Ministry of Health and Jagath Abeysinghe, President of SLRCS.

Ambassador MIZUKOSHI handed over packs of essential food and nutrition including rice (Keeri Samba), dhal, dried sprats, soya meat, green gram, coconut oil, yahaposha, and chickpeas to pregnant and lactating mothers.

Sri Lanka is facing the worst humanitarian crisis in its history. Facing unprecedented difficulties, around seven million of people are not able to purchase essential food items amidst prevailing food shortages and soaring food prices.

As a long-standing friend of Sri Lanka, the Government of Japan has provided USD 1 million humanitarian assistance through SLRCS. This will reach out to a total of 76,000 people living in all provinces of the island to support the nutritional needs of low-income families, develop their livelihood situations and assist them in managing their water, sanitation and hygiene issues, particularly the menstrual hygiene issues of female school children.

Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Health Dr Sunil De Alwis, Regional Director of Health Dr Chandana Gajanayake, Divisional Secretary of Kolonnawa MAP Jayakody, and Head of Country Cluster South Asia of IFRC Udaya Regmi were also present.