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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14pt">PHM Monthly Meeting – 02^nd<span>  </span>February 2018<span></span></span></p>

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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri">This meeting was held at Nagarodaya Centre and attended by
31 activists and interested individuals . <span></span></p>

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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri">The main focus of the meeting<span>  </span>was on the <span> </span>Health component of the Open Government
Partnership in Sri Lanka. After initiating the programme about 6 months ago by
Sarvodaya Sri Lanka and completing basic preparatory activities, this was the
first time that the approach was discussed in a gathering of CSOs, trade
unions<span>  </span>and other interested parties.<span></span></p>

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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri">Dr. Vinya Ariyaratne explained the objectives of the OGP
programme<span>   </span>which was a new concept to
the participants. Thereafter the National Coordinator of Deshodaya gave a
detailed explanation about the dimensions of the programme with supporting
documents to raise awareness of the participants. <span>  </span>According to him there are three commitments
under health.<span>  </span>They are:<span></span></p>

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</span></span></span>Enhancing the public involvement in the preventive
and curative measures for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).<span></span></p>

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</span></span></span>Transparent policy on the supply of drugs at
affordable prices.<span></span></p>

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</span></span></span>Improving national health performance.<span></span></p>

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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri">Following this, three speakers presented on the above
commitments covering <span> </span>the medical aspects
of CKD, the issue of safe drugs at affordable prices and a panel discussion covered
the <span> </span>proposed activities under the
Commitment of Health.<span></span></p>

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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri">The decisions taken were:<span></span></p>

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</span></span></span>Organizing action to pay closer attention to the
public health aspects of CKD, because it has been found that in certain areas, one
section of the locality shows no prevalence of CKD while another adjacent
location shows high prevalence. It was suggested that the causes must be
analysed. Even the traditional varieties of rice that are accepted as having
curative properties that could control CKD has become a business with high
prices. Steps such as rain water harvesting need to be revived.<span></span></p>

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</span></span></span>Native physicians in the gathering mentioned
about successes of native treatment and they agreed to provide some case
studies.<span></span></p>

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</span></span></span>As<span> 
</span>regards drug prices, patch solution may not be productive unless the
government, physicians an pharmacies insist on prescribing by generic names.
The discussion revealed that the problem is complex.<span></span></p>

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</span></span></span>Attention was paid to nutrition issues as well.
One activist specializing on jak fruit related food items agreed to train
others.<span></span></p>

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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri">All these presentations were followed by open discussions in
which all participants responded with enthusiasm.<span></span></p>

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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri">Prepared by Somaratne Herath<span></span></p>





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