COLOMBO, Sept 21 (NIA) – The Maldives has sought Sri Lanka’s assistance in upgrading its health sector and providing emergency drugs to the island country.
In a statement, released by the Maldives High Commission in Colombo, it said that in discussions held between Maldives Health Minister, Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim and his Sri Lankan counterpart, Dr. Rajitha Senarathne, the two ministers discussed the opening of educational opportunities for the Maldives medical students in Sri Lanka and giving a training for Maldives health employees in Sri Lanka.
Further, the two also discussed providing emergency drugs for Maldives from Sri Lanka, and sharing knowledge on establishing blood transfusion centers in its effort to provide the highest attainable standard of health for all citizens.
The statement said that the health sector of Maldives has attained significant progress and noticeable improvements and key health indicators of the Maldives shows that maternal mortality rates of 13 per 100,000 live births, and infant mortality rates of 9 per 1000 live births, are on par with developed countries and well above the global average.
Vaccine preventable diseases, such as neonatal tetanus, whooping cough, polio, and diphtheria are nonexistent.
“In order to address the social determinants of lifestyle diseases and to achieve and sustain positive changes for better health, the Maldives will be hosting a special summit. Minister Nazim has extended an invitation to Minister Senarathne to participate as the chief guest at this summit on Non-Communicable Diseases,” the statement added.
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