Health and Safety in Sri Lanka

In the 1980s, death ratio in Sri Lanka was only 6 per 1,000, a significant decrease from 1948 figures of 13 per 1,000. Infant death also registered proportional decrease from 50 deaths per 1,000 in 1970 to 34 deaths per 1,000 in the 80s. Currently, the death rate of 6 per 1000 still remains but infant mortality rate is now only down to 19 deaths per 1,000 live births. Life expectancy is now at 75 years, ranked 86 in world standards as of 2009 estimates.

Sri Lanka, like the Chinese, has an ancient form of medicine practice which is still more popular in the country. This traditional medicine is called ayurveda. Ayurveda practitioners, in fact, outnumber the doctors and nurses in the country. In the late 80s, the government sponsored the operation of health clinics specializing in ayurvedic medicine. Ayurvedic physicians totaled to 12,000 while medical doctors were only about 3,000.

The decrease in the death rate can largely be attributed to the introduction of Western medicine in the 80s. The state sponsored 490 hospitals and 338 central dispensaries. Maternity services were made sure to reach rural areas. The health department of Sri Lanka’s effort of controlling infectious diseases seems to be working as smallpox has been declared eliminated. Currently, bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, dengue fever, malaria and leptospirosis are major diseases plaguing the country occasionally. The government is also serious in controlling the HIV-AIDS virus. In 1986, no Sri Lankan was reported to have contacted AIDS but in 1988, six cases have been reported. Although comparatively low compared to other countries, in 2001, HIV-AIDS carriers reached 3,500. With modern medicine’s slow acceptance by the populace, general health conditions still have a big room for improvement. Health wise, Sri Lanka’s health conditions rank surprisingly high despite it being a third world country.