Between 4,000 and 5,000 children are born with birth defects in Sri Lanka each year, with heart-related conditions being the most common, according to Dr. Kapila Jayaratne, President of the Association of Community Medicine Specialists.
Speaking at a press briefing held at the Medical Association headquarters in Colombo to mark World Birth Defects Day, Dr. Jayaratne expressed concern over the rising incidence of birth defects alongside declining birth rates. “This issue is not confined to Sri Lanka but has gained the attention of medical professionals worldwide. There has been an increase in birth defects related to the musculoskeletal system, digestive system, kidneys, and genetic disorders. As a professional association, we are committed to raising public awareness on these conditions,” he said.
Sri Lanka currently records 247,000 live births annually, he noted. “Our goal as an association is to ensure a healthier future generation. We also plan to implement large-scale programmes aimed at strengthening child healthcare and protection.”
The event was also attended by Dr. Gayani Gunawardhana, Consultant in Community Medicine at the Family Health Bureau; Dr. Vindhya Subasinghe, Paediatrician at Borella Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital; Prof. Vajira Dissanayake, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo; and Dr. Duminda Samarasinghe, Consultant in Paediatric Cardiology, who also addressed the media.
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