Former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa and Health Minister Pavitra Wanniarachchi arriving at the BMICH for the recent installation of Dr. Pradeep de Silva as the President of the Sri Lanka College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (pic courtesy Health Ministry)

Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi recently addressing the members of the Association of Gynaecologists and Paediatricians at a ceremony to mark the election of its 35th President at the BMICH said the government policy was to keep the rate of maternity deaths at a very low level.

The Minister said she was happy to note that the programme launched by the country’s health sector to reduce the maternal deaths during a period of 40 years had been hailed globally.

There had been 192 maternity deaths in 2002 and it had been reduced to 92 by 2019, the Minister said.

Though Sri Lanka recorded a low maternity death rate compared to other countries in the region, last year it had once again increased to 150, she noted.

The Minister said it was the duty and responsibility of the government to keep the maternity death rate at a low level and see to the welfare of health needs of pregnant mothers.

Minister Wanniarachchi assured that the government would take measures to solve the problems faced by those engaged in the field of gynaecology and paediatrics and provide them with state of the art technology and introduce more medical centres in 2021.

 She also hailed the services provided by gynaecologists and paediatricians, clinical staff, and public health staff.

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa was the Chief Guest.