Sri Lanka delegation led by Minister of Health and Indigenous Medicine Services, Minister of Women, Child affairs and Social Security of Sri Lanka Pavithra Wanniarachchi participated at the Global Meeting of the World Health Organization (WHO) on Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) and Mental Health held in the Sultanate of Oman from 9 to 12 December 2019.
The goal of the WHO Global Meeting was to accelerate progress on SDG target 3.4 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to reduce premature mortality from NCDs and the promotion of mental health and well-being. The Meeting also focused on sharing success stories and challenges in countries.
Speaking at a panel discussion of the High-level Segment of the Global Meeting, Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi stated that the prevention and control of Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have been identified as priority issues by the Government of Sri Lanka in its national health agenda and that the Ministry of Health had established a National NCD Council to coordinate and monitor the progress of National Multi-sectoral Action Plan for Prevention and Control of NCDs 2016-2020.
On the sidelines of the WHO Global Meeting, Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi also met with Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman Dr. Mohammed Saif Al Hosni and discussed on potential areas for cooperation in health sector between Sri Lanka and the Sultanate of Oman. Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman, O.L Ameer Ajwad and WHO Representative to Sri Lanka, Dr. Razia Pendse also associated with the Minister during the meeting.
The WHO Global Meeting brought together more than 150 countries with selected UN partners and civil society, the private sector, philanthropies, academia and donors.
Sri Lanka delegation comprised of Dr. Vindya Kumarapeli, Director (Non-communicable Diseases), Dr. Rohan Rathnayake, Director (Mental Health) and Private Secretary to the Hon. Minister Kanchana Jayaratne.
