Improving uptake of non-communicable disease screening in Sri Lanka: eliciting people's preferences using a discrete choice experiment.

A national programme to universally screen the population between 35 and 65 years for non-communicable diseases was established at 'Healthy Lifestyle Centres (HLCs)' in 2011 in Sri Lanka. Despite several efforts by policymakers, the uptake of screening remained <10% of the target population and with disparities in uptake across districts and among men and women. Considering service beneficiaries as a vital stakeholder, a discrete choice experiment was carried out to estimate people's preference for a non-communicable disease screening service delivery model in rural, urban and estate sectors in a district in Sri Lanka.

Success of malaria chemoprophylaxis for outbound civil and military travellers in prevention of reintroduction of malaria in Sri Lanka.

Background: Sri Lanka was certified as malaria-free in September 2016. However, the continuous presence of the malaria vector poses serious risks of reintroduction of the disease. Chemoprophylaxis and advice on malaria preventive behaviour for international travellers is a key strategy adopted to reduce the risk of imported malaria.

Severe Plasmodium vivax malaria, HIV, tuberculosis co-infection in a Sri Lankan traveller: case management and challenges during the prevention of malaria reintroduction phase.

Background: The country received malaria-free certification from WHO in September 2016, becoming only the second country in the WHO South East Asia region to be declared malaria-free. Imported malaria cases continue to be reported, with 278 cases reported between 2013 and 2017. The diagnosis of a severe Plasmodium vivax patient co-infected with HIV and tuberculosis is discussed with an overview of the rapid response mounted by the Anti Malaria Campaign (AMC), Sri Lanka.

First record of Anopheles stephensi in Sri Lanka: a potential challenge for prevention of malaria reintroduction.

Background: The major malaria vector in Sri Lanka is reported to be Anopheles culicifacies with Anopheles subpictus, Anopheles annularis, and Anopheles varuna considered as potential vectors. The occurrence of Anopheles stephensi, which is the key vector of urban malaria in India and the Middle East, had never been reported from Sri Lanka.

Methods: A series of entomological investigations were carried out by the Anti Malaria Campaign, Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka during December 2016 to April 2017 in two localities of the Mannar District in the Northern Province of the country.

Should chemoprophylaxis be a main strategy for preventing re-introduction of malaria in highly receptive areas? Sri Lanka a case in point.

Background: Imported malaria cases continue to be reported in Sri Lanka, which was declared 'malaria-free' by the World Health Organization in September 2016. Chemoprophylaxis, a recommended strategy for malaria prevention for visitors travelling to malaria-endemic countries from Sri Lanka is available free of charge. The strategy of providing chemoprophylaxis to visitors to a neighbouring malaria-endemic country within the perspective of a country that has successfully eliminated malaria but is highly receptive was assessed, taking Sri Lanka as a case in point.