NEWS FROM SRI LANKA

SRI LANKA ELIMINATES MEASLES: World Health Organization

On July 9^th, the World Health organization announced that Sri Lanka has eliminated measles. This is especially impressive because it comes at a time when the number of measles cases globally has been increasing. In the United States, the CDC reports that between January and April 2019 there have been 704 reported cases, out of which 71% occurred in unvaccinated persons. In Sri Lanka, eradication of measles is attributed to a high childhood vaccination rate.

https://www.who.int/southeastasia/news/detail/09-07-2019-sri-lanka-eliminates-measles

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/68/wr/mm6817e1.htm

SRI LANKA PLANS TO COLOR CODE PACKAGED FOOD

In an effort to reduce consumption of sugar, salt and fat Sri Lankan health authorities are planning to introduce a new standardized color coding system, red for too high and green for low.

https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/sri-lanka-plans-colour-coding-for-packaged-food-119031800628_1.html

TREATING COLLECTIVE TRAUMA

As Sri Lanka recovers, emotionally, psychologically and economically from the trauma inflicted by the Easter bombings, Health care providers should be sensitive to the very real issues of PTSD and collective trauma. In this commentary from US News, Mr Figley makes a case for identifying and assisting survivors in a collective manner

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/articles/2019-05-02/commentary-countries-need-to-treat-the-trauma-of-large-scale-attacks