Symposium for Parliamentarians

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

The second sub regional symposium for Parliamentarians on sustainable immunization financing will be held today and tomorrow at the Waters Edge Hotel, Battaramulla with the participation of several Parliamentarians, Government officials from many countries in the region and Sri Lanka, Health Ministry spokesman said.

According to the spokesman the Health Ministry of Sri Lanka and Sabin Vaccine Institute jointly organize this event sponsored by the WHO, UNICEF, World Bank and some other agencies. It was held in Nepal and Cambodia previously. Annually Sri Lanka spends Rs.550 million on the National Vaccination Program and it protects Sri Lankan child community from ten major illnesses. Sri Lanka has already achieved many victories through the proper implementation of the National Vaccination Program. The lowest infant and maternal mortality rates in South Asia and the highest life expectancy in the same region are two of them.

The participants will be educated on the National Immunization Program, vaccines, injections used in Sri Lanka, the procedure involved in importing vaccines to Sri Lanka and all related subjects, he said.