国际英语资讯:Sri Lanka ready to deal with health issues following floods

COLOMBO, May 30 -- Sri Lanka on Tuesday said that it was preparing to face health concerns once the floods which lashed the country recede.

Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne told reporters that while there was no spread of disease so far, diarrhea and skin diseases are expected later.

However he said health officials have been deployed to the affected areas and steps will be taken to counter the spread of any disease following the floods.

The death toll from the floods and landslides increased to 193 on Tuesday afternoon and 94 others are reported missing.

Foreign assistance is continuing to flow in with China, Pakistan and India among the countries sending ship loads of humanitarian aid, Senaratne said.

Meanwhile the World Health Organization (WHO) is liaising closely with the Sri Lanka Ministry of Health and is assisting the government to provide critical healthcare services.

The main areas for support are medical team deployment, strengthening surveillance of communicable diseases, provision of mental health and psychosocial support for survivors and support health promotion in camps with the objective of preventing any outbreaks.

The WHO is seeking assistance from the South East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund to provide assistance to the government.