Nutrition level of IDPs as good as the rest - UNICEF

Irangika Range and Sandasen Marasinghe

Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva told parliament yesterday that a recent report by the UNICEF revealed the nutrition level of the people in the welfare camps in the North had improved almost on par with the nutrition level of the rest of the people in the country.

Responding to a question raised by JVP Parliamentarian Ranaweera Pathirana the Minister said nutrition level of the inmates of the welfare centres had dramatically increased compared with their nutrition level when they reached the welfare centres.

When he was questioned by JVP MP Bimal Ratnayake as to whether there was a program to improve the mental health of the persons in welfare centres, the Minister stated that a program was in progress with the participation of Psychiatric College, Social Services Ministry, Education Ministry and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Education Minister Susil Premajayantha said a group of teachers competent in Tamil language and trained for counselling had been sent to those villages to improve the mental health of the students.