WHO Sri Lanka

The official account of the World Health Organization in Sri Lanka

[WHO Sri Lanka @WHOSriLanka]

Changing the narrative starts with a conversation responsibly 🗣️

To mark #WorldSuicidePreventionDay today (10 September), the Directorate of Mental Health, Ministry of Health & Mass Media, bringing together partners, communities and the public, organized a commemorative walk and a range of wellbeing activities at Viharamahadevi Park yesterday, in aim of advancing awareness and action for suicide prevention and mental health in Sri Lanka 🇱🇰

Following the walk, participants engaged in art therapy 🎨, music therapy 🎶, drama therapy 🎭, guided exercise 🚶🏽‍♂️ and wellness & couselling sessions 🗣️, demonstrating practical approaches to promoting mental wellbeing, resilience and social connectedness.

The event reflected this year's theme, "Changing the Narrative on Suicide: Start the Conversation," and highlighted an important public health message: ‼️ Suicide is preventable. We can all play a part in saving lives:
•⁠ ⁠Create safe spaces for dialogue 💬
•⁠ ⁠⁠Challenge stigma 🧐
•⁠ ⁠⁠Promote mental health & wellbeing 📢
•⁠ ⁠⁠Improve access to support

WHO was pleased to join this important initiative, which highlighted the collective responsibility of governments, communities and individuals to foster open conversations and actions on mental health and ensure that people experiencing distress receive the support they need.

#WorldSuicidePreventionDay #StartTheConversation #MentalHealthMatters #SuicidePrevention

[WHO Sri Lanka @WHOSriLanka]

RT @DrTedros: Yesterday in Dili, @WHOSEARO Health Ministers, delegates and community members came together to Walk the Talk for #HealthForA…

[WHO Sri Lanka @WHOSriLanka]

🤔 Did you know that taking care of your body can significantly improve your #MentalHealth? Here are some tips to help you thrive:

🚶‍♀️Be active. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week. It boosts your mood and reduces stress.

🥗 Eat healthy. Fill your plate with fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins. Limit salt, sugar and unhealthy fats to keep your mind sharp and your body strong.

😴 Get enough sleep. This helps you stay focused, manage stress, and maintain a positive outlook.

Take small steps today for a healthier, happier you!

#MentalHealthMatters #SriLanka

[World Health Organization South-East Asia @WHOSEARO]

Delegates at #RC79 observed a minute of silence to honour the victims of the recent floods in #Nepal and remember all those who lost their lives.

Member countries and @WHO extended its deepest condolences to the Government and people of Nepal. 🇳🇵

#WHOSEARO #HealthForAll #PublicHealth

[World Health Organization South-East Asia @WHOSEARO]

📍 #RC79 - Dili, Timor-Leste

Physical health and mental health are equally important! 🧠💪

And that's how delegates started their day — with Walk The Talk and energizing exercises near the iconic Cristo Rei. 🚶‍♀️🌅

A perfect start to a day dedicated to health for all!

#WalkTheTalk #HealthForAll #PhysicalAndMentalHealth #CristoRei

[World Health Organization South-East Asia @WHOSEARO]

Ministers of Health from across the WHO South-East Asia Region, @WHO Director-General @DrTedros and senior officials have arrived in Dili, #TimorLeste for the Seventy-ninth Session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia (#RC79), the annual governing body meeting of WHO in the Region.

#RC79 kicks off tomorrow. Together, Member States will shape action to improve health and health systems across a Region home to nearly 2 billion people.

#HealthForAll #PublicHealth #WHO #SouthEastAsia

[WHO Sri Lanka @WHOSriLanka]

Self-care isn’t selfish; it’s survival, strength, and showing up for yourself 💪🏽

Every choice to protect your health is a quiet act of power for you, and for the people who count on you.

🚶🏽‍♀️ Take the walk
🏥 Book the check-up
🗣️ Ask the questions
😴 Rest when you need to

Choose one healthy habit today - and let it be the beginning of many!

Your health is worth your time 🩵

#MentalHealthMatters #PhysicalActivity #HealthyLifestyle #SriLanka

[World Health Organization South-East Asia @WHOSEARO]

Community health workforces (CHWs) shouldn’t only be mobilized when emergencies strike.

At the regional #CommunityEngagement forum in Colombo, countries & partners agreed on priorities to embed CHWs within health systems—strengthening public health every day and resilience in times of crisis.

🔗 https://t.co/pYbuQFB2s2

#CERForum2026 #CommunityHealthWorkforces #CHWs #PrimaryHealthCare

[WHO Sri Lanka @WHOSriLanka]

Menopause is a natural part of life. Yet conversations about health in later years often leave it, and the broader sexual and reproductive health needs of older persons, out of the spotlight ❗️

Recognizing the need to change this, the Directorate for Youth, Elderly and Disabled Persons and the Family Health Bureau of the Ministry of Health - Sri Lanka, with support from WHO, convened a national policy dialogue 💬 today, bringing together Ministry officials, clinicians, public health specialists, geriatric care experts, representatives of the Menopause Society of Sri Lanka and other stakeholders.​‌

🇱🇰 From Sri Lanka's demographic transition to menopause-related health needs, discussions centred on how policies and services can better respond to the realities of ageing.

🗣️ Dr Momoe Takeuchi, Officer-in-Charge and Dr Yasara Samarakoon, National Professional Officer for Family Health, Gender and Life Course from WHO Sri Lanka, contributed technical perspectives on a life-course, whole-of-society response approach to sexual and reproductive health - one that addresses ageism and stigma, and protects the rights of older persons and persons with disabilities.

Building health systems that work for people at every stage of life starts with conversations like these ✅

WHO remains committed to supporting the Ministry of Health in strengthening evidence-informed policies and services that enable all people to age with health, dignity and well-being, leaving no one behind.
#HealthyAgeing #SRHR #Menopause #HealthForAll #SriLanka

[WHO Sri Lanka @WHOSriLanka]

🔎 A 2nd national consultative workshop to build on the momentum of Sri Lanka's nationwide rollout of Event-Based Surveillance (EBS) 🇱🇰

Yesterday, the Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health, supported by WHO convened experts and partners from across sectors drive the next phase of EBS implementation forward 🙌🏽

🗣️ During the technical sessions, WHO Consultant Dr Amarnath Babu set the foundation for discussions on strengthening EBS implementation, while Mr A. L. K. Wijemannage, Director General of the Dept. of Meteorology, highlighted the impacts of El Niño ⚠️ on Sri Lanka 🌦️

Through support from the @Pandemic_Fund, WHO continues to support Sri Lanka's EBS scale-up through technical guidance, capacity building, tools and SOPs, monitoring and evaluation, and strengthened coordination among partners to enhance national health security 🛡️

#HealthSecurity #OneHealth #Surveillance #PandemicFund #SriLanka

[WHO Sri Lanka @WHOSriLanka]

🇱🇰🫱🏽‍🫲🏾🇮🇳 What can Sri Lanka learn from India's food safety journey?

📱 Discover how a recent technical exchange is helping shape efforts to strengthen food safety governance and regulatory systems in the country.

🔗 https://t.co/DvryEwg2fc

[WHO Sri Lanka @WHOSriLanka]

Unpacking lessons from India 🇮🇳 to strengthen food safety in Sri Lanka 🇱🇰

Following the recent study visit to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (@fssaiindia), Sri Lanka's Ministry of Health delegation met with WHO Representative to Sri Lanka Dr Rajesh Sambhajirao Pandav and technical focal points from WHO Sri Lanka and the @WHOSEARO to debrief key findings and discuss priorities for the way forward 📋

🗣️ The discussion focused on translating lessons from India's experience into action to strengthen food safety governance, enhance regulatory oversight, improve food labelling systems and support the establishment of a Food Safety Bureau in Sri Lanka.

The exchange reaffirmed the shared commitment of the Ministry of Health, WHO and regional partners to advancing stronger, more resilient food safety systems that protect public health and consumer confidence 🫱🏽‍🫲🏾🛡️

#FoodSafety #HealthSecurity #OneHealth #SriLanka

[WHO Sri Lanka @WHOSriLanka]

🏃🏽‍♂️ Movement matters at every age and every stage of life.

Yesterday, WHO Sri Lanka convened a productive discussion on advancing physical activity promotion in Sri Lanka with the Department of Allied Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, @ColomboUni, the NCD Unit of the Ministry of Health, @UNVSriLanka, @WHOSEARO, and other partners.

💬 The dialogue explored how strengthening the capacity of health and allied workforce cadres can enhance community-based services and support healthier lifestyles across the life course.

1️⃣ One message resonated throughout the discussion 🗣️: creating healthier, more active communities requires collaboration across sectors, strong community engagement, and environments that enable movement for all.

As Sri Lanka 🇱🇰 faces a growing burden of noncommunicable diseases and an ageing population, investing in physical activity is essential to improving health, well-being, and quality of life.

🫱🏽‍🫲🏾 Through partnerships, capacity building, and community engagement, WHO continues to support efforts to embed physical activity across the life course, contributing to healthier populations and healthier ageing in Sri Lanka.

#MovementMatters #HealthyAgeing #HealthForAll #SriLanka

[WHO Sri Lanka @WHOSriLanka]

Regular physical activity, may it be through dancing 💃🏽, yoga 🧘🏽, cycling 🚴🏽‍♀️, swimming 🏊🏽 or strength training 🏋🏽‍♂️, helps reduce the risk of:
🔻Cardiovascular diseases
🔻Cancers
🔻Diabetes 2
🔻Dementia

Whether you do high intensity workout or you're just tidying up or having fun, #EveryMoveCounts toward a healthy body and a happy mind 🧠

#HealthyLiving #PhysicalActivity #BeatNCDs #MentalHealth #SriLanka

[WHO Sri Lanka @WHOSriLanka]

✨ Collaboration in action!

Yesterday, partners and stakeholders came together for the 2nd Steering Committee Meeting of the #OneRegistry project to review progress, discuss strategic priorities, and align on the next phase of implementation🫱🏽‍🫲🏾📊

The meeting reinforced our shared commitment to strengthening civil registration systems through digital transformation, improving data quality and interoperability, and supporting evidence-based decision-making for better health and development outcomes 🌐📈💡

The #OneRegistry initiative is implemented by the Government of #SriLanka and @UNSriLanka SDG Fund, with funding from Government of Canada, @EU_in_Sri_Lanka, @UKinSriLanka @UNPeacebuilding & @JointSDGFund and led by @UNDPSriLanka & @WHOSriLanka

Together, we are building a more efficient, inclusive, and people-centered #CRVS ecosystem that leaves no one behind.

#OneRegistry #CRVS #DigitalTransformation #SDGs #DataForDevelopment #SriLanka

[WHO Sri Lanka @WHOSriLanka]

Strengthening Sri Lanka’s health workforce information systems for better planning and decision-making ☑️

WHO is supporting the Ministry of Health and Mass Media in updating the National Health Workforce Accounts (NHWA) for the years 2024 and 2025. NHWA serves as a vital tool for monitoring health workforce 🔎, informing evidence-based policy decisions 📊, and supporting progress towards universal health coverage 🏥

Recently, a NHWA orientation session was conducted facilitated by experts from WHO Headquarters with the support of the WHO South-East Asia Regional Office (SEARO). The session brought together a team of focal points from the Ministry of Health who are being trained to update Sri Lanka’s NHWA data with the aim of strengthening the national capacity for institutionalizing the NHWA process.

🫱🏽‍🫲🏾 Through this collaboration, WHO and the Ministry of Health are working to enhance the quality, availability, and use of health workforce data to support strategic health workforce planning and strengthen Sri Lanka’s health system.

#HealthWorkforce #NHWA #SriLanka

[WHO Sri Lanka @WHOSriLanka]

📢 Strong risk communication and community engagement can make all the difference during a public health emergency.

As part of ongoing efforts to strengthen health emergency preparedness, Sri Lanka has completed the initial phase of an external review of its Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) system 👏🏽

Through consultations with health authorities, government agencies, community organisations, media representatives and development partners, the review examined RCCE capacities and captured key lessons from the COVID-19 response 🦠

📊 Preliminary findings and recommendations have been presented to the Director-General of Health Services. The review, undertaken in response to a priority recommendation from Sri Lanka's Joint External Evaluation (JEE), will help identify strengths, gaps and opportunities to further strengthen RCCE systems for future emergencies.

Looking ahead, the next phase will support the development of a comprehensive roadmap to strengthen RCCE capacities across the country 🚀

WHO Sri Lanka is pleased to support the Ministry of Health, particularly the leadership of the Health Promotion Bureau (@HPBSriLanka), and partners in advancing more resilient, people-centred emergency preparedness and response systems 👥

#HealthSecurity #RCCE #EmergencyPreparedness #SriLanka