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3. HEALTH AND
ENVIRONMENT
3.1 General
protection of the environment
The Constitution of Sri Lanka makes it “duty of every person
in Sri Lanka
to protect nature and conserve its riches.” The national environmental policy
acknowledges this duty and seeks to provide the direction according to which
steps will be taken to conserve and manage Sri Lanka’s environment in all
its aspects.
Sri
Lanka has an impressive portfolio of
environmental legislation and a set of standards for the quality of air,
water, food safety and the workplace.
The national environment policy renews commitment of
government, in partnership with the people, to manage effectively the
environment for the benefit of present and future generations. The aim of
this policy is to ensure sound environmental management within a framework of
sustainable development in Sri
Lanka. The policy is supported by many
other policies and strategies developed for other sectors.
Under the National Environment Act of 1980, an
environmental council was established in 1982 with representatives from
different ministries, including health, which has functions related to the
environment. Under the guidance of the council, a central environmental
authority is responsible for implementation of activities that include
development of standards and guidelines for pollution control, monitoring
major water bodies, control of toxic chemicals, hazardous waste management,
chemical and microbiological impact assessment of major development
activities, and public information and education utilizing the mass media,
schools, NGOs and other community based organizations. A national environment
action plan was prepared in 1991 and a set of policy measures for
environmental health suggested by a presidential task force in 1992.
The past decade has seen many activities designed to
address environmental issues but these activities have fallen well short of
what is required to maintain a stable, balanced environment in the face of
the increasing demands by a growing population on the island’s limited
natural resources. The national environment policy provides the direction and
framework for a systematic and coordinated effort towards addressing
environment concerns.
Related Links Environmental Health Environment – WHO/SEARO National
Environment and Health Action plans- WHO/SEARO WHO HQ
3.2 Water supply and
sanitation
There have been some improvements in the availability of
safe drinking water during the last decade. In 2001, the overall percentage
of the population with safe drinking water available at home or in the
vicinity was 82 percent (81 percent rural and 95 percent urban). The
proportion of the population with access to safe latrine in urban and rural
areas in 2001 was 80 percent. In 1995, the corresponding figures were 70
percent for safe drinking water availability (65 in rural and 88 in urban areas)
and 75 percent for population with latrine facilities (70 percent for rural
and 81 percent for urban areas) (Draft Report on Millennium Development
Goals: Sri Lanka’s Progress, September 2004).
The Ministry of Health is not directly responsible for provision
of water to the country. However, through its field health personnel, health
education is carried out to motivate people to consume water that is safe:
usually boiled cooled water.
The Public Health Inspectors (PHI) conduct routine tests
for adequate chlorination of sources of drinking water during epidemics of
bowel diseases (diarrhoea and gastro-enteritis) and
other disaster situations like floods, etc. When approving applications for
construction of buildings, the health authorities ensure that there will be
no contamination of sources of drinking water from toilets and other sources.
The use of latrines by the community is promoted through
health education as well as by enforcing the provisions of relevant
legislation related to housing. All new houses have to process toilet
facilities in order to obtain approval from the local authorities. The
department of health services provides financial assistance to those without
toilets and those unable to construct one with their own resources.
Related Links Water
and sanitation – WHO/SEARO Water and sanitation – WHO/HQ Water – WHO/SEARO
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