Poison, seventh killer in Lanka
Nadira GUNATILLEKE
Poisoning is the seventh top cause for deaths in Sri Lanka. In 2008 there were 63,742 cases of poisoning and 1,247 deaths.
Around 70 percent of those poisoning was caused by drugs and other chemicals. Poisoning cause due to lack of knowledge and ignorance. This was revealed during a seminar at the Health Education Bureau recently. According to latest statistics issued during the seminar around 30 percent of the poisoning cases reported in 2008 were due to insecticides. Fifty eight persons out of the total number had died due to snake bites. According to the findings, the majority of the victims of poisoning are children and youth.
Children get poisoned due to the negligence of parents. Careless use of insecticides and excessive use of drugs cause most of the poisonings in rural areas.
The National Week on 'Poisoning Prevention' organised by the Health Ministry is being held from May 17 to 23 under the theme 'Let us take precautionary measures to prevent poisoning at home and in the community caused by ignorance.
dailynews.lk
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