The Ministry of Health and Mass Media has distributed 10 new Toyota double cab vehicles to regional health institutions with financial assistance from the World Bank, as part of efforts to strengthen primary healthcare services in Sri Lanka.
The vehicles were provided under the World Bank-funded Primary Healthcare System Enhancing Project and officially handed over by Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa at the ministry premises on Friday (06).
According to the ministry, the vehicles will be used to strengthen primary healthcare services at rural and regional levels, particularly programmes aimed at preventing and controlling non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and improving mental health services.
The vehicles have been allocated to the Regional Director of Health Services (RDHS) offices in Nuwara Eliya, Puttalam, Monaragala, Polonnaruwa, Kalutara, Matara, Ratnapura, Trincomalee and Jaffna.
One vehicle has also been allocated to the National Institute of Health Sciences in Kalutara.
The ministry said the World Bank-supported initiative aims to improve the efficiency and accessibility of primary healthcare services, particularly in rural and regional communities.
Ministry Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe, Primary Healthcare System Enhancing Project Director Dr. Lalith Liyanage, and representatives of the Health Ministry and Toyota Lanka attended the handing-over ceremony. (Newswire)