Sri Lanka has launched the ‘Triple Elimination’ programme across all maternity clinics nationwide from today (01), marking a new milestone in the country’s maternal and child healthcare sector.
According to the Ministry of Health, pregnant mothers undergoing routine blood testing from June 1 onward will now be screened for Hepatitis B in addition to the existing tests for HIV and syphilis.
Sri Lanka had previously implemented the ‘Double Elimination’ programme aimed at preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis.
As a result of those efforts, Sri Lanka became one of the first countries in the world to achieve this public health milestone in 2019 and received official certification from the World Health Organization (WHO).
Health authorities state that the country has continued to maintain this status through continuous monitoring and evaluation.
The Ministry said the introduction of the Triple Elimination programme represents the next phase of strengthening maternal healthcare services.
“Under this programme, every pregnant mother will be tested for Hepatitis B in addition to HIV and syphilis. Necessary arrangements have already been made to provide these tests free of charge at maternity clinics across the country,” the Ministry said in a statement.
Officials expect the expanded screening programme to further strengthen early detection, prevention, and efforts to reduce mother-to-child transmission of infectious diseases.
