Health Minister Wanniarachchi participates in High-level Segment of WHO Global Meeting in Oman

A Sri Lankan delegation led by Sri Lanka’s Health and Indigenous Medicine Services, Women and Child Affairs and Social Security Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi participated in the Global Meeting of the World Health Organization (WHO) on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and Mental Health, held in Oman from 9-12 December. 

The goal of the WHO Global Meeting was to accelerate progress on SDG target 3.4 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to reduce premature mortality from NCDs and promote mental health and wellbeing. The meeting also focused on the sharing of countries’ success stories and challenges.  

Speaking at a panel discussion of the High-level Segment of the Global Meeting, Minister Wanniarachchi stated that the prevention and control of NCDs had been identified as a priority issue by the Sri Lankan Government in its national health agenda and that the Health Ministry had established a National NCD Council to coordinate and monitor the progress of the National Multi-sectoral Action Plan for Prevention and Control of NCDs 2016-2020. 

On the sidelines of the WHO Global Meeting, Minister Wanniarachchi also met with Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health Affairs of Oman Dr. Mohammed Saif Al Hosni and discussed potential areas of cooperation for both countries’ health sectors. Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Oman, O.L Ameer Ajwad and WHO Representative to Sri Lanka, Dr. Razia Pendse, were also present at the meeting.

The WHO Global Meeting brought together more than 150 countries with selected UN partners and civil society, the private sector, philanthropists, academia and donors.

The Sri Lankan delegation comprised Non-Communicable Diseases Director Dr. Vindya Kumarapeli; Mental Health Director Dr. Rohan Rathnayake and the Minister’s Private Secretary Kanchana Jayaratne.