WHO declares Sri Lanka rubella-free

September 06, 2018

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared Sri Lanka as a Rubella-free-country, the Health Ministry said.Health Ministry's Media Secretary Nipun Ekanayake said the WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia Poonam Khetrapal Singh awarded the certificate declaring Sri Lanka as a Rubella-free-country to Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne at the WHO South-East Asia Regional Conference in New Delhi, India Wednesday.

"Sri Lanka was declared as Malaria-free country in 2015, Filaria-free country in 2016 and Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus (MNT) -free country in 2017 by the WHO. Today's declaration of Sri Lanka as a Rubella-free-country was another landmark for the healthcare services in 2018," Poonam Khetrapal Singh said.

The WHO Regional Director pointed out that every year Sri Lanka eliminates a disease and Sri Lanka's leadership in health services is a big support for the achievements.