News

New trend among some SL parents not to have infants vaccinated

Published

1 year ago

2024/04/2

By Rathindra Kuruwita

There is a trend among some Sri Lankan parents not to have their infants vaccinated and this could lead to disastrous consequences, officials from National Programme for Tuberculosis Control and Chest Diseases (NPTCCD) says.

In certain developed nations, some parents start vaccinating their children only after a year or so after they were born and Sri Lankan parents who find out about this on the Internet, had also started delaying vaccinations, the official said.

“Children from developed nations in North America and Europe are not exposed to the same level of communicable diseases as we do due to climatic and other factors. However, things are different in tropical countries and developing nations. Children, until they reach five, have very low immunity. They develop resistance to diseases after contracting them. When it comes to more serious diseases like tuberculosis, the question to consider is that do we give the children a vaccine or take the risk of letting them develop immunity by contracting the disease,” Dr. Mizaya Cader, team lead of the Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation Unit at the NPTCCD said.

Dr. Cader said that vaccination had been a main reason for Sri Lanka’s good health indicators and tuberculosis among Sri Lankan children was very low. Only about 215 children contracted tuberculosis in Sri Lanka per year, she said.

Dr. Cader said in comparable countries between 5 to 15 percent of tuberculosis patients were children, but the number was only three percent in Sri Lanka.

“Our successful vaccination drive may be the main reason for this low number,” she said.

In 2023, there were 9,538 reported cases of tuberculosis in Sri Lanka, and in 2022 only about 8,500. Dr. Cader said in many parts of the world the number of reported tuberculosis patients had increased.

She said that was due to distractions during the Covid-19 pandemic. The economic crisis which led to a drop in nutritional levels might also have led to a drop in people’s immunity. This might be leading to higher cases of tuberculosis. About 25 percent of tuberculosis patients we come across have a low Body mass index.”

Moreover, those with diabetes, kidney diseases, cancers, and others with conditions and behaviours that reduce immunity are also prone to tuberculosis, she said.

Director of the NPTCCD, Dr. Pramitha Shanthilatha Rathnayake said that in 2022 there had been only about 8,500 cases,. The reported number for 2023 was close to the numbers detected in 2015, she added.

Consultant Respiratory Physician Dr. Neranjan Dissanayake, said that it was extremely important for people to know that they have tuberculosis and seek treatment. A tuberculosis patient who does not seek treatment, could at least spread the diseases among 12 people a year, on average, he said.

“Even when you take meds, you can spread it to others for about six weeks from the day you start taking the medicines. As long as you don’t take medicine, you will keep on spreading the diseases to others. Also, without treatment, 70 percent of people with tuberculosis in the lungs will die within two years.”

Dr. Dissanayake said there were about four main drugs used to treat tuberculosis. During the first two months, a patient is given all four drugs. In some countries there are variants that are resistant to these drugs.

However, luckily there are only a very limited number of cases of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis here, Dr. Dissanayake added. “These drugs are mild and even pregnant women can take them.”

All News Advertisement

Related Topics:BCG Vaccine Featured National Programme for Tuberculosis Control and Chest Diseases

Up Next

SJB asks govt. to secure release of 50 Lankans held by a terrorist group in Myanmar

Don't Miss

SL urges tri-forces members not to become mercenaries in Russia or Ukraine

Sahan Weerasooriya

Click to comment

Latest News

Heat index is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Monaragala, Hambantota, Jaffna, Mullaittivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Kurunegala districts

Published

5 hours ago

2025/04/27

Priyan

Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. 26 April 2025, valid for 27 April 2025.

The public are warned that the Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Monaragala, Hambantota, Jaffna, Mullaittivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Kurunegala districts.

The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.

Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.

ACTION REQUIRED

Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated. Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.

Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.

Latest News

Minister of Foreign Affairs pays his last respects to Pope Francis

Published

5 hours ago

2025/04/27

Priyan

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath represented Sri Lanka at the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday [26]

News

RW to visit CIABOC on Monday

Published

6 hours ago

2025/04/27

Thilina Walpola

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe will appear before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption (CIABOC) tomorrow (28) over the statement he had made on MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake, his lawyers have informed the Commission.

Accordingly, the former President will appear before the commission at 9.30am on Monday.

Wickremesinghe was initially summoned by the Commission to CIABOC on April 17 in relation to a statement he had made about the corruption case filed against NDF (gas cylinder) MP Dassanayake.

In response to the previous summons, Wickremesinghe had indicated that he is prepared to appear before the commission but requested a different date citing that his lawyers will not be available in Colombo during the New Year holiday period.

Accordingly, a new was provided and Wickremesinghe requested to appear before the commission at 09.30 a.m. on Thursday (April 25).On April 7, Wickremesinghe had said that MP Dassanayake withdrew the fixed deposits belonging to the Uva Provincial Council, over which he is now facing corruption charges, in accordance with a circular issued during Wickremesingher’s tenure as Prime Minister.

The former President questioned whether the MP’s arrest over the matter was in response to Dassanayake’s vocal criticism of the government in parliament.

The sitting MP is currently in remand custody for allegedly misappropriating a sum of Rs. 1 million of the Uva Provincial Council in 2016.

He was taken into custody on March 27, over three separate corruption-related cases.

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court previously granted bail in the cases filed against him but he remains in remand custody due to an order issued by the Badulla Magistrate’s Court.

According to the CIABOC, Dassanayake had solicited funds from three state banks, claiming they were intended to provide bags for preschool children in the province.

Two banks complied, granting him Rs. 1 million and Rs. 2.5 million, which were later transferred to his foundation account.

However, when a third bank refused to provide funds, Dassanayake reportedly retaliated by withdrawing the Uva Provincial Council’s fixed deposits from that institution.The CIABOC filed a case against the MP, citing the government incurred a financial loss of Rs. 17.3 million due to his actions.