Country action
Sri Lanka
©UNICEF/UN0795297/UNICEF Sri L. Dr. Shanthini Ganeshan, right, speaks to to a a mother of an inpatient baby at Kalubowila general hospital on Monday, Feb. 27, 2023.
Every Woman Every Newborn in Sri Lanka
Download the full profile with additional key demographics, progress against milestones, and more.
© UNICEF/UNI528037/UNICEF Sri L.On January 6, 2023, the measles vaccination campaign in Ja Ela, Sri Lanka, commenced, backed by collaborative efforts from the Ministry of Health’s Epidemiology Department, UNICEF, and the Japanese government.
National mortality targets
Maternal mortality ratio
16 per 100,000 live births by 2030
Stillbirth rate
2per 1,000 live births by 2030
Neonatal mortality rate
4 per 1,000 live births by 2030
Progress to meet the national maternal, newborn mortality and stillbirth reduction targets
©UNICEF/UNI6474/Pietrasik Nurses show a new mother the correct way to breastfeed her baby, in the maternity ward in Pottuvil Government Hospital in the eastern Ampara District.
Progress to meet Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere coverage targets
MNH Acceleration Plan highlights
- Maternal and child health policy reviewed and updated
- Sub-national plans to reach the SDGs developed
- Newborn screening pilot initiated
- Emergency obstetrics and newborn care assessment and training reviewed and updated
- List of priorities for implementation research on maternal and newborn health developed.
© UNICEF/UNI464426/UNICEF Sri L The Kuruvita MOH is vital to meeting the specific requirements of new mothers, expecting mothers, and their babies since it is tasked with organising and supervising certain programmes at the MOH office.
© UNICEF/UN0795310/UNICEF Sri L Nuwani, a 27 year old mother of one month old infant yet to be named, sits by her daughters hospital bed at Kalubowila general hospital on Monday, Feb. 27, 2023
Quality of care in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka’s successes in improving quality of care for maternal, newborn and child health are essential to help reduce maternal and newborn mortality and stillbirths. These include:
- National respectful and supportive bereavement care package is being developed
- Maternal and perinatal death surveillance and response (MPDSR) system strengthened and implemented through updating national guidelines and establishing MPDSR committees
News and events
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