Responding to the needs of pregnant mothers and newborns, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Sri Lanka with funding from the Government of Canada contributed essential medical infrastructure and equipment to the Ministry of Health recently.
The UNFPA has observed that the pandemic has triggered a crucial islandwide need for a separate maternal care unit for mothers who have contracted the virus and isolated units for pregnant mothers and newborns suspected of having contracted the virus.
UNFPA Country Representative Ritsu Nacken with the High Commissioner of Canada to Sri Lanka, David McKinnon, presented portable delivery beds, infant warmers, infusion pumps and other medical equipment to Director Maternal and Child Health, Dr. Chithramalee de Silva and Consultant Community Physician, National Program Manager, Intranatal and Newborn Care, of the Family Health Bureau, Dr. Nethmini Thenuwara, to enhance the capacity of hospital care centres to ensure that pregnant mothers are provided with facilities for safe delivery.
The equipment valued Rs. 19,216,000 (CAD 116,239) is part of UNFPA’s Integrated Response to Protect Vulnerable Groups Affected by Covid-19 supported by the Government of Canada.