Around 72% of abuses against Lankan children are sexual abuses, studies on the subject have shown. Children from dysfunctional families, motherless families, separated families and divorced families were among the most vulnerable victims of such abuse, with nearly 50% of such abuse occurring inside their homes, Prof Asvini Fernando from the Ragama Medical Faculty was quoted as saying at a press briefing held at the Sri Lanka Medical Association recently. Calling for parents and guardians to be vigilant of both male and female children, she reportedly said that in 2014, 29 children were killed due to violence while 34 had been killed for the same reason the previous year. In 2012, 35 children had been murdered.
According to Prof. Fernando the number of grave crimes committed against children totalled 5,889 in 2015 as compared to 5,598 in 2014 which were much higher than those in 2013 and 2012. She also reportedly said that more male children were being abused than female children noting that after being abused, male victims tend to abuse their younger siblings. Such incidents had been reported in hospitals, she added. Former Chairman of the National Child Protection Authority ( NCPA) Prof.Harendra de Silva, reportedly said that he had to face various problems during his tenure in office when the NCPA took steps to imprison some politicians for abusing children .
CMC urges Colombo citizens to keep city healthy
The Colombo Municipal Council has requested residents of Colombo to support the Council in keeping the city healthy, clean and tidy. CMC sources told the Sunday Observer that they were now advertising in newspapers and posting leaflets in households in all three languages on how this could be done . “We have asked them to allocate a space or bin in green colour for compost waste. This includes kitchen waste, vegetable and fruit waste , left over food , coconut refuse, used tea leaves and tea bags, meats and seafood waste, egg shells, king coconut husks . All recyclable items should be placed in a yellow bin and should be clean. They include: glass, paper, cardboard, plastic, metals, clean coconut shells, clean tins, clean yoghurt cups, plastic cups, recyclable kitchen appliances. Non recyclable items should be put in a brown container . They include soiled polythene and plastics, sanitary napkins, soiled yoghurt cups , used sachets of shampoo, sauce, milk etc, fallen hair, clothes, footwear, shavers with blades, prescription drugs, rubber, clay pots and ceramic pots.
CMC sources also informed that with regard to chemical waste including bulbs, batteries and other electronic items, they would be collected once a month and placed in the e-waste centre . They noted that citizens would have the opportunity to collect perishable items and convert them into compost that could be used for gardening and other purposes.
They said the CMC was currently conducting cleaning campaigns in all high risk areas in the city and the focus would be on schools, temples, mosques, government buildings where there were mosquito breeding sites due to food parcels and used lunch packets being left unclean. Sources said all owners and heads of schools had been warned to ensure cleanliness on school grounds and to raise more awareness on the dangers of mosquito bites among the children and parents.
Blood donations needed for emergency services
The National Blood Bank officials have reportedly requested the public to donate more blood to ensure the smooth supply of blood for emergency services. Blood Bank officials were quoted as saying that the request was due to a shortage of blood in the Bank. Informed sources were quoted as saying that usually around 75 blood donation camps were held islandwide every month but this number had decreased to 55 . A healthy donor can donate blood once in every four months . One donor’s blood can save three lives they said, adding that donating blood also improves the donor’s overall cardiovascular health. They said blood donating accelerates producing new blood cells, reduces cancer risks and burns calories thus offering a host of health benefits to the donor.
Blood can be donated at the centre at the Narahenpitiya Junction, Colombo 5 or to the Blood Bank at the nearest state hospital. All donated blood is voluntary and go through a well regulated screening process to ensure it is free of bacteria that can cause health risks to the recipient, health officials said on grounds of anonymity.
FPA to prevent new infections, provide care, for HIV/AIDs patients
The Family Planning Association of Sri Lanka has called for Expression of Interest from civil society organisations and key population led organisations for the implementation of HIV/AIDS preventive interventions in 2019. The key populations include Female Sex Workers (FSW) , Men Having Sex with Men (MSM) Transgender (TG,) Injecting Drug Users (IDU) Beach Boys (BB) and People living with HIV (PLHIV.) The Global Fund for AIDs , Malaria and TB (GFATM0 is said to be supporting the Government of Sri Lanka to scale up its HIV/AIDs preventive interventions to Most At Risk Populations (MARPS) in 13 districts . FPA sources said the overall goal was to prevent new HIV infections and provide comprehensive care and treatment for people living with HIV for the next three years.
Over Rs 20,000 mn worth health projects in Kalutara
Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine Minister Dr Rajtha Senartne has reportedly stated that during the past three years , 120 Health Development Projects worth Rs 20,000 million had been implemented in the Kalutara district. According to him Rs 12,000 m had been spent on developing the facilities of the Kalutara General Hospital including a new ETU, medical ward complex and drug storage facilities, while another Child and Maternity Hospital at Kalutara was to be constructed soon . In addition, the Beruwala District Hospital, Aluthgama Rural Hospital and Dharga Town Hospital will be developed with modern facilities and building complexes the Minister reportedly said.
He was quoted as saying that all state hospitals managed by the Western Provincial Council and all estate hospitals would be developed at a cost of Rs 8,000 million while the Horana Base Hospital would be developed as a complete main base hospital.
Pick pocket menace in hospital
A group of women pickpockets frequenting the Dambulla Hospital premises have posed a problem to the patients . The women reportedly pose as patients and try to befriend other patients to pick their pocket. Last week a few women waiting at the OPD had reportedly been robbed by these women. Hospital authorities have reportedly said that the problem had been continuing for some time and advised patients to be on their guard against strange women requesting to befriend them.
Giribawa Hospital needs doctors
Residents in the Giribawa Pradeshiya Sabha area in Kurunegala have complained of undergoing severe health risks at the Giribawa Hospital due to a lack of doctors. They reportedly said that around five doctors were required to serve the daily patients visiting the hospital but only one doctor was present and only during daytime. No doctors were available at night. Around 300 patients reportedly attend the hospital daily for treatment. Meanwhile, Provincial Health Director Dr N Fareed has reportedly told the media that he had requested the Ministry to look into the issue and appoint more doctors to the hospital. He reportedly said that the shortage of doctors islandwide would be resolved as his Ministry would be appointing 800 new doctors this year to hospitals countrywide.