President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that the Government has drawn up a plan to overcome all challenges encountered in the health sector during the next six years.

The President also said that with the peaceful situation in the country, the government has a responsibility to upgrade the living conditions of the people.

President Rajapaksa made these observations at the inaugural ceremony of the Maternal ward complex of the Ratnapura General Hospital yesterday (29 July).

The newly built complex is a two-storied building with all facilities. The total cost of the project was Rs. 25 million.

Addressing the gathering, President Rajapaksa added that programmes to eradicate dengue are being carried out in the provincial level and called upon all to assist in these programmes.

The President pointed out that due to the changing lifestyles the health sector is faced with new challenges and that the government is carrying out programmes to overcome them.

President Rajapaksa stressed that the government has carried out a major service to develop the hospital system in the recent past.

He expressed gratitude to Venerable Kiribatgoda Kgnanananda Nayaka Thero who was instrumental in initiating the hospital project.

'All of us should admire this project as Buddha too mentioned that he would consider treatments for patients as a treatment for himself', the President said.

'The Venerable Thero has provided guidance not only to establish the maternity unit and the labour room for Ratnapura Teaching Hospital, but also to cure thousands off patients in the area', he said.

President Rajapaksa added that the government has expedited development projects overlooked by former governments.

'Our second allocation of grants was for the health service while the first was for Defence. We have never cut fund allocations for these two spheres. We were ready to execute all duties needed for the people. We have shown it to the world', he said.

“People are talking about dengue today. We need the support of the people to combat this plague. I attended a funeral of a person who died from Dengue. They were not ready to clean their environment till someone became a victim of Dengue. We will be able to eliminate this disease if everyone would take action to keep their environment clean. I believe the Government’s task will be made easier by making people aware of this menace'.

'We take steps to provide medical equipments and drugs whenever people need them. The Health Ministry has launched programmes in this regard because we can’t estimate the worth of human lives. We are responsible for protecting people’s health', he said.

'A country which was fragmented has been united today. People are living without fear and suspicion. An environment has been established in the country for the people to travel anywhere safely with their children'.

'We are developing this country to make our society free of fear and suspicion. We have established infrastructure facilities to develop this country in order to give the people a better life'.

'We have launched projects to provide electricity to the villages. We have taken action to construct bridges and roads. Everything we do is to give the people a better life', the President emphasized.

He pointed out that the per capita income, which was US $1050 till 2005, has been increased to US $ 2100 by now. The Government’s target is to increase it to US $ 4000 in the future. We should work to give people a better health service, President added.