Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent and Youth Health Programme (RMNCAYH)
A Sri Lankan nation that has optimized the quality of life and health potential of all women, children and their families.
To contribute to the attainment of highest possible levels of health of all women, children and families through provision of comprehensive, sustainable, equitable and quality Maternal and Child Health services in a supportive, culturally acceptable and family friendly settings.
Maternal and Child Health (MCH) has been a long standing priority in the National Health Policy. The National policy on MCH was formulated as a directive for the national commitment to adopt and implement the appropriate interventions in improving the MCH. This document would provide policy and strategic directions to address the emerging concerns and challenges in MCH while maintaining and strengthening already established services. Thereby, this document would provide policy guidance and directions to the provinces for effective implementation of the MCH programme.
In accordance with the MCH policy, strategic plans have been developed in relevant programme areas in MCH. These strategic plans are expected to be followed by Annual Work Plans at national, provincial and district level.
- National strategic plan – Maternal and Newborn Health
- National strategic plan – Child Health
- National strategic plan – Adolescent Health
- National strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding Sri Lanka(2015-2020)
Several technical committees have also been appointed to function as the Technical Advisory Bodies to guide respective programmes by providing technical guidance, advising and monitoring national and provincial programmes. Those committees shall make recommendations to the National Committee on Family Health (NC/FN) on issues related to improvements in relevant programme area.
National Committee on Family Health is the highest level policy making and decision making body for the Family Health Programme in Sri Lanka, chained by the Secretary / Health.
- Technical Advisory Committee on Maternal Health and Family Planning (TACMH/FP)
- Technical Advisory Committee on Newborn and Child Health (TACNCH)
- Working committee on School Health
- Working committee on Well Women Clinic
- Subcommittee on Maternal and Child Nutrition
- Monitoring Committee – Sri Lanka code for protection, promotion and support for breast feeding and marketing of designated products.
Family Health Bureau (FHB) is the focal point for Maternal and Child Health (MCH) in Sri Lanka. The organization is responsible for planning, co-ordination, monitoring and evaluation of the MCH and Family Planning services in the National Family Health Programme.
Maternal Health, Child Health, Women’s Health and Family Planning form main components of the Family Health Programme.
The demographic change over the past few years has brought about the need of addressing the changing scenarios in MCH area. Thus several components have been added to the existing programme.
The services are provided through carefully streamlined infrastructure of the Ministry of Health and Provincial Health services which comprise wide network of Medical Institutions and Medical Offices of Health (MOH) areas.
Provision of basic health care is one of the prime responsibilities of the government with Maternal and Child Health constituting an important component of the health care system. An organised effort to provide maternal and child health services commenced with the introduction of the Health Unit System in 1926, Kalutara being the 1st health unit established with a Medical Officer of Health as the in charge.
In 1965 Government accepted family planning as a national policy and it was integrated with the already developed Maternal and Child Health services provided by the Ministry of Health.
Considering it’s national importance, a separate division was established in 1968 within the Ministry of Health to implement the programme throughout the country.
This was initially designated as the Maternal and Child Health Bureau and was later re-designated as the Family Health Bureau with an Assistant Director Maternal and Child Health as the head of the institution. The post of Assistant Director was upgraded to Director / Maternal and Child Health in 1986.