In Sri Lanka, around 360,000 pregnancies are registered every year, and approximately 328,000 babies are born alive. Out of them, 5,800 are born with a birth defect; 30% of whom have a severe defect that affects their day to day life. Nearly 650 of these babies die before their first birthday – making birth defects the second leading cause of infant mortality in Sri Lanka. Additionally, 1,900 babies die in-utero after 28 weeks of gestation (i.e. are stillbirth), and approximately 35% die due to a birth defect.
The visibility of birth defects as a leading cause of morbidity and mortality is limited in all parts of the world, especially in developing countries. Therefore, sharing knowledge on preventing birth defects and how to improve the health and quality of life of those affected is critical. This information should be universally available, in every country and every social group. Efforts to implement existing prevention and care measures should be accelerated in all regions of the world.
To learn more about birth defects, we interviewed Dr Kapila Jayaratne, National Programme Manager, Maternal and Child Morbidity & Mortality Surveillance, Family Health Bureau.
Role of World Health Organization (WHO)
WHO has been instrumental in moving the needle on addressing birth defects and disabilities in Sri Lanka, says Dr Kapila. With the passing of a resolution on congenital anomalies at the sixty-third World Health Assembly (2010), Sri Lanka began creating a national initiative for the surveillance, prevention and care of congenital defects before and after birth.
To contextualize the global agenda, Dr Kapila notes that the role of the WHO regional office was essential. A coordinated response was crucial. With the support of WHO South-East Asia Regional Office (SEARO) and the WHO Country Office, Sri Lanka put together its first Strategic Plan on Births Defects. WHO also supported the country in conducting case surveillance using a web-based system, building capacity on surveillance, and increasing the prevention and control of birth defects.
We now have a web-based, real-time, birth defects surveillance system, which guides our interventions. It was the WHO who raised the issue of birth defects and prioritized it amongst the Sri Lankan medical community. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dr Nina Raina for her continued support in getting the interventions on birth defects to the state at which they presently are.
Many birth defects are preventable, and those living with birth defects can be supported to reach their optimal states of wellbeing.
What do you see in the next 10 years in this area of work?
Sri Lanka has many areas for improvement. Other countries offer termination of pregnancies on the grounds of lethal congenital deformities, which is a progressive stance that Sri Lanka could take. Through the web-based system, we are expecting valuable data that will guide our practices and inform our programmes and policies. I would say in 10 years, we will be well-positioned to prevent birth defects.
Can you tell us about ICBD Sri Lanka 2020?
ICBD 2020 offers a high-quality mix of sessions and unique networking opportunities. The technical program is rich with 7 plenary sessions with invited speakers, 15 simultaneous symposia including symposia featuring oral presentations, and 10 poster sessions. We have secured the highest calibre of speakers who inform and educate on a variety of birth defect-related issues. ICBD 2020 received over 150 abstracts on different topics, mostly on surveillance of birth defects, public health policies, health care systems to ensure prevention, and how to improve care for persons with birth defects. ICBD2020 is a great opportunity to network experts from all over the world, exchange valuable experiences, and contribute to the prevention and management of patients and families with birth defects at global and national levels.