Sri Lanka's Cabinet has greenlit a three-year initiative to improve nutrition services for pregnant women, nursing mothers, and young children in four districts affected by post-pandemic economic hardship.
The Government has given Cabinet approval to a three-year nutrition programme targeting four districts identified as experiencing significant nutritional deficiencies in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent economic challenges. The Maternal and Early Childhood Nutrition Services Project will operate in Nuwara Eliya, Ratnapura, Polonnaruwa, and Trincomalee, with financial backing of $2.73 million from the Japan Social Development Fund, a mechanism within the World Bank Group.
According to Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, the Government views the declining nutritional health of vulnerable populations as an urgent issue. He attributed this deterioration to the economic pressures that emerged following the pandemic, which has restricted access to proper nutrition and healthcare services. The project will concentrate on establishing and reinforcing nutrition interventions at the community level, with particular focus on pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children under five years old.
The initiative aims to expand availability of targeted community-based nutrition programmes among disadvantaged groups, addressing critical periods during pregnancy, breastfeeding, and early childhood development. Officials expect the project to strengthen existing maternal and child health services by enhancing community access to nutrition interventions and mitigating nutritional risks during these vulnerable life stages.
