10 September 2021 08:12 am Views - 109
By Sheain Fernandopulle
Referring to the request made by Gynaecologist of the De Soysa Maternity Hospital for women- Dr. Harsha Atapattu, to delay pregnancy by one year, considering the Delta variant spread, the Health Ministry said it was not its official stand.
The Medical specialist had expressed these views on Wednesday (8) while addressing a news briefing at the Health Promotion Bureau (HPB).
Commenting on the statement, Deputy Director-General of Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath told the media yesterday that the medical specialists who addressed the news briefings at the HPB did not communicate the official stance of the Health Ministry or the Government but had expressed his personal views in order to educate the people on the prevailing situation. “My take on this is that it’s a fair request at this point of time where the dreaded Delta variant poses a vast threat on pregnant women,” he underlined.
However, Dr. Herath said it was not meant to force anyone to delay pregnancy but to help and make people understand the gravity of the pandemic which could adversely affect pregnant women. “The statement made by the medical specialist boils down to the importance of being more alert as we all know only a little of the COVID-19,” he pointed out.
Meanwhile, Dr. Herath said there was a considerable proportion of elderly people who had not still got a single dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
“It is this group of people who contribute to the rise in daily COVID deaths. Hence, people who haven’t got themselves vaccinated are invited to get their vaccines without further delay,” he added.