Policy and technical matters: Agenda item 8.1 to 8.5
Today’s session on Policy and Technical matters included five agenda items (agenda items 8.1 to 8.5) ranging from Non-Communicable Diseases, Communicable Diseases, Health Emergency Preparedness and, Monitoring the progress on UHC and health related SDGs. The sessions were based on the working documents;
| Agenda item | Session | Working documents |
| 8.1 | Accelerating progress on prevention and control of NCDs, including oral health and integrated eye care, in the WHO South-East Asia Region | SEA/RC74/6 |
| 8.2 | Annual report on monitoring progress on UHC and health-related SDGs | SEA/RC74/7 |
| 8.3 | Strategic Framework of the South-East Asia Regional Vaccine Action Plan 2022–2030 as aligned with the Global Immunization Agenda 2030 | SEA/RC74/8 |
| 8.4 | Beginning of the Decade of Action for ending viral hepatitis, HIV and STIs as public health threats by 2030 in the South-East Asia Region | SEA/RC74/9 |
| 8.5 | Strengthening public health emergency preparedness and response in the South-East Asia Region | SEA/RC74/10 |
01. Dr. Mahendra Arnold, Deputy Director General (Public Health Services I)
02. Dr. Alan Ludowyke, Director International Health
03. Dr. Eshani Fernando, Director – Planning
04. Dr. Vindya Kumarapeli, Director Non-Communicable Disease
05. Dr. Samitha Ginige, Chief Epidemiologist
Accelerating progress on prevention and control of NCDs, including oral health and integrated eye Summary of the intervention from Sri Lanka was presented by Dr. Vindya Kumarapeli, Director, NCD, Ministry of Health.
(Agenda item 8.1)
Prevention and control of NCDs in Sri Lanka is guided by the National Multisectoral Action Plan, which is well aligned with the Regional Action Plan (2013–2020). Although Sri Lanka has shown some improvement in reaching the voluntary targets indicated therein, the progress is inadequate. With the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic, the provision of NCD services have been a major challenge, especially the services for screening of NCDs and risk factors and the population-based interventions. Use of innovative locally adapted, digital based technologies supported the country to maintain the essential NCD services throughout the COVID pandemic.
Cataract and uncorrected refractive errors are the most common causes of blindness in Sri Lanka. Though country has progressed in providing services to screen for these conditions and eyecare services are offered free of charge, burden remains high with a felt need to further strengthen the integrated people centered eye care services in the country.
Oral health conditions, including oral cancer and dental caries are a considerable burden in Sri Lanka with the country being the second highest incidence of oral cancer rate globally, which is the leading cancer among males in the country. Screening services offered need to target the vulnerable and the services need to be integrated to the essential service packages delivered through primary health care institutes. An oral health policy is being developed for the coming decade with a focus on preventing the burden. The country’s focus on promoting oral health led Sri Lanka to be a co-sponsor to propose the resolution on Oral health and the 148th Executive Board of the WHO.
Sri Lanka reiterated its commitment to extend the Regional Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of NCDs to 2030 and to participate in the consultative process for the development of the Regional Action Plans for oral health and for integrated people-centred eye care.
Annual report on monitoring progress on UHC and health-related SDGs
(Agenda item 8.2)
This is the sixth annual report on progress in universal health coverage (UHC) and the health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The report presents the latest data on the health-related SDGs and Thirteenth General Programme of Work (GPW 13) target indicators.
Dr. Eshani Fernando (Director – Planning), representing the Ministry of Health Sri Lanka, thanked and congratulate the regional office for launching the progress report on UHC and health related SDGs. She highlighted the importance on updated information for monitoring of indicators related to UHC and SDG and she mentioned that this has become a challenge due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Fernando also emphasized that WHO considers information from routine national surveys such as population census, demographic and heath survey and household income and expenditure survey in development of some key health indicators. However, Sri Lanka has not been able to carry out such surveys as planned due to the country situation and available information may be outdated. Therefore, Sri Lanka proposed to consider information routinely collected by the health programmes in calculating the relevant indicators until the updated national survey reports are available.
Summing up, The Regional Director, Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh appreciated the Member States including Sri Lanka for the achievements and acknowledged the difficulties faced by member states due to the pandemic. Further, Dr. Singh mentioned that various suggestions raised by member states, including the proposal from Sri Lanka to use routinely collected data to calculate the indicators until the national survey data is available will be considered favorably.
Strategic Framework for the South-East Asia Regional Vaccine Action Plan 2022−2030 as aligned with the global Immunization Agenda 2030
(Agenda item 8.3)
In August 2020, the Seventy-third World Health Assembly adopted Decision endorsing the new global vision and overarching strategy for vaccines and immunization: “the global Immunization Agenda 2030” (IA2030). This was then put forward for action in the Seventy-fourth World Health Assembly held in May 2021. Under this backdrop, in align with the global strategy “Strategic Framework for the South-East Asia Regional Vaccine Action Plan 2022−2030” was developed. The draft Strategic Framework is being submitted to the Seventy-fourth Session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia, held today, 8 September 2021.
The plan outlines the three regional impact goals: Reducing overall mortality and morbidity from vaccine-preventable diseases for all across the life-course, pursuing regional vaccine-preventable disease elimination and control goals and Leaving no one behind by increasing equitable access and use of new and existing vaccines.
In his remarks, Dr. Sunil Kumar BAHL, the Coordinator (COVAX, Immunization & Vaccine Development) emphasized that the region has been making a commendable progress in terms of immunization coverage even amid COVID19 pandemic. He further stated, new framework intended to provide a meaningful transition from the previous strategic framework by maintaining the focus on key regional priorities while introducing new elements reflecting emerging challenges.
During the meeting, countries endorsed the Regional Plan and presented their observations. The Chief Epidemiologist, Dr. Samitha Ginige in his remarks mentioned that Sri Lanka has political and programmatic commitment and long-term investment on health including immunization. Sri Lanka has own success stories of maintaining above 95% vaccination coverage for all vaccines for more than a decade. High community acceptability, accessible service delivery ensuring Universal Health Coverage, integration of immunization services with other public health programmes following life course approach are some reasons for such an achievement. This is well evidenced by the COVID19 vaccination drive that achieved 60% and 43% of population coverage as of today for single dose and for the both doses of the vaccines respectively. He further emphasized that the country supports the regional framework and committed to provide equitable services on immunization in align with regional framework and global agenda leaving no one behind.
Beginning of the Decade of Action for ending viral hepatitis, HIV and STIs as public health threats by 2030 in the South-East Asia Region
(Agenda item 8.4)
Summary of the intervention from Sri Lanka was presented by Dr.Mahendra Arnold, Deputy Director General-Public Health Services I, Ministry of Health
Sri Lanka has initiated Hepatitis B vaccination in infancy from 2002 aiming of elimination and prevention of Hepatitis B infection. Currently Hep B vaccination is continuing and has achieved 95% coverage at national and subnational level. Routine vaccination services are aligning with global immunization agenda 2030 and regional strategic priorities identified in achieving UHC. Viral Hepatitis surveillance is already in place for more than 20 years. Integrated surveillance with case -based investigations are there to identify Hep B infection. Currently country is planning to conduct Hepatitis B sero prevalence survey in 2022.
Sri Lanka is considered as low HIV prevalent (0.02%) country up to now. Further, it is proud to state that, in 2019 Sri Lanka achieved the goal of eliminating mother to child transmission of HIV and received the validation certification from the World Health Organization. Sri Lanka has adopted the SDG target of End AIDS in Sri Lanka as specified by the global technical partners.
Key population prevention interventions using the peer led model is implemented and interventions are carried out in collaboration with NGO/CBO & engaging KPs.
HIV testing services were decentralized and several testing approaches including provider-initiated testing, community-based testing, promotion of rapid HIV tests and introduction of self-testing were used to increase accessibility to HIV testing services. The policy decision to treat all was taken in 2016 and the ART guideline was updated and started treatment for all PLHIV was started from 2016.
Provision of comprehensive HIV care services free of charge to all categories of PLHIV is an evidence for equitable accessibility to services.
Sri Lanka has shown an early response to the epidemic with appropriate planning based on regular external reviews which may have helped to maintain very low HIV prevalence for three decades.
Sri Lanka fully supported the resolution in place for action for ending viral hepatitis, HIV and STIs as public health threats by 2030.
The officials from, Ministry of Health, Nepal congratulated the achievement of elimination of Mother to child Transmission of HIV /Syphilis status of Sri Lanka.
Strengthening public health emergency preparedness and response in the South-East Asia Region
( Agenda item 8.5)
Strengthening health emergency preparedness and is one of the most important health priorities in our Region. Emergency risk management is one of the Regional Flagship Priority Programs in the South East Asia Region since their inception in 2014. The Working Group on Strengthening WHO Preparedness and Response to Health Emergencies (WGPR) established at the WHA 74 is being co-chaired by Amb. Grata E. Werdaningtyas and Mr. Colin McIff and has met on two occasions. Amb. Grata E. Werdaningtyas emphasized on the role of WGPR as convener of direct dialogue with policy makers and experts in all countries of the region.
Dr. Palitha Abeykoon addressed the plenary as the WHO Director-General's Special Envoy For COVID-19 Preparedness and Response for SEAR. He commended regional Directors efforts in making health emergency a priority in the region. He also emphasized on the regions need to achieve the twin goals of Universal Health Coverage and Health Security and also, the importance of an overarching one health approach for a strong and resilient health system. He also mentioned that investing in healthcare worker development and protection are also timely needs.
Dr. Dilhani Samarasekera, Consultant Community Physician from the quarantine unit presented on behalf of Ministry of Health Sri Lanka.
“In Sri Lanka Co-National Focal Points of IHR are Quarantine Unit and Epidemiology Unit of Ministry of Health. Sri Lanka conducted Joint External Evaluation in 2017 with the involvement of health and non-health sectors and WHO to assess the baseline situation of IHR core capacities. Co-national Focal Points of IHR liaise with Disaster Preparedness and Response Unit of Ministry of Health to fulfill the activities stipulated in National Action Plan for Health Security 2019-2023 in relation to health emergency preparedness and response. Simulation exercises were conducted in relation infectious disease and in relation to chemical emergency with the involvement of several stakeholders. Health staff of the curative and preventive healthcare were trained on CBRNE in 2019. State Party Annual Reporting Score has increased from 54% in 2019 to 62% in 2020. In SPAR, under the area of National Health Emergency Framework Preparedness, SRL scored 53% in 2020 compared to 33% in 2019.
COVID-19 has exposed long-standing need in health systems strengthening in most of the countries in the world including in Sri Lanka. In 2020, Internal interim review was conducted on Health response to COVID-19 covering 15 strategic areas and recommendations were made. Taking the detrimental effects of PHEIC as a high priority in securing the health of its citizens and public health in the country as a whole, Government of Sri Lanka along with the Ministry of Health, other Public and private agencies are working together to combat against COVID-19. Continuous reviews are made, and actions are taken to improve the workforce, surveillance, lab testing, supply management systems, health-care system preparedness, free vaccination, risk communication and community engagement for COVID19. We truly appreciate the continuous technical support by WHO to Strengthen the public health emergency preparedness and response in Sri Lanka”
Strengthening public health emergency preparedness and response in the South-East Asia Region
Related documents /working papers