Sri Lanka Calls for Lifelong Care for Childhood Cancer Survivors

COLOMBO (News 1st); Health Minister Dr Nalinda Jayatissa stated that children who survive cancer must be given the opportunity to live healthy, dignified and productive lives.

He made these remarks during a special session held on May 18 on the sidelines of the 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva. The session, titled “Measuring survival, driving change - Advancing equity through the WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer,” focused on improving survival rates and reducing inequalities in childhood cancer care.

At the session, the World Health Organization (WHO) also announced the launch of its latest global report, “Measuring survival, driving change.”

The report provides, for the first time, country-level estimates of five-year survival rates for lymphoid leukaemia among children and adolescents. It also highlights gaps in health data systems and inequalities between countries.

Dr Jayatissa noted that advances in early detection, treatment and supportive care had increased the number of children surviving cancer worldwide. However, he stressed that survival alone should not be the only benchmark.

“The true measure of success in childhood cancer is not only how many children survive, but how they live,” he said.

He reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to working with the WHO, international partners, health professionals, civil society and survivor communities to strengthen lifelong care for childhood cancer survivors.

Dr Jayatissa highlighted that Sri Lanka’s free public health system provides a strong foundation for equitable access to cancer diagnosis, treatment, follow-up care, rehabilitation and psychosocial support.

He emphasised that care for childhood cancer survivors should extend beyond hospitals and continue through primary healthcare systems, schools, families and communities.

The minister pointed out that survivors may face long-term complications, including heart-related conditions, endocrine disorders, learning difficulties, mental health challenges, reproductive health concerns, as well as social and economic risks. He said addressing these issues requires a patient-centred, multidisciplinary and lifelong approach. Sri Lanka is currently strengthening organised follow-up services through paediatric cancer treatment centres and hospitals to ensure continuous care from childhood through adolescence and into adulthood.

He added that community health services would play a significant role, including Medical Officer of Health services, public health nursing, maternal and child health programmes and the newly introduced Arogya Suwatha centres.

Efforts will also focus on community-based follow-up, health education, psychosocial counselling, nutritional guidance and support for children returning to school and society. Digital health and health information systems are expected to play an increasingly important role in these initiatives.

Dr Jayatissa also underscored Sri Lanka’s partnership with the WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer, which supports countries in improving survival rates, reducing inequalities and strengthening health systems.

The WHO initiative, launched in 2018, is currently active in 87 countries, with 50 of those nations incorporating childhood cancer control into their national health strategies, according to information presented at the session.

The 79th World Health Assembly is being held in Geneva under the theme “One World for Health.” The event brought together health ministers, diplomats and delegates from 194 member states.

Dr Victor Elias Atallah Lajam of the Dominican Republic was elected President of the Assembly. Health and Mass Media Ministry Secretary Dr Anil Jasinghe and senior ministry officials also attended the meeting.