A meeting of the Steering Committee on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 03 on ‘Good Health and Well-Being’ was held today at the Ministry of Health

A meeting of the Steering Committee on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 03 on ‘Good Health and Well-Being’was held today at the Ministry of Health and was chaired by the Secretary to the Ministry of Health, Dr. Palitha Mahipala with the participation of the Director General of the Sustainable Development Council, Chamindry Saparamadu and senior officials from the Ministry of Health representing all relevant divisions including the Family Health Bureau, Epidemiology Unit, Mental Health Unit, Non Communicable Diseases (NCD) Unit, Dengue Control Unit, National STD/AIDS Control Programme etc.

The meeting focused on reviewing progress of SDG 03 implementation and deliberating on the required reforms, policy and administrative interventions in the health sector to achieve the SDG 03 targets as well as on compiling timely data to track progress on SDG 03 targets. Particular attention was placed on strategies and urgent actions needed to address the current challenges relating to increased levels of maternal and child mortality rates during the recent years.

The Steering Committee structure institutionalized by the Ministry of Health is an effective mechanism for progress monitoring of SDGs and taking ownership and responsibilities for specific SDGs by the ministries in line with their broad mandates.