UNFPA Sri Lanka has been working with the Sri Lanka College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists (SLCOG) and the Family Health Bureau of the Ministry of Health since last year to develop guidelines on maternal care. The objective of the workshop and the second phase of the initiative was to develop guidelines of management of care and clinical pathways.

During the workshop, a guideline on preterm birth was completed. According to Prof. Hemantha Senanayake from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Colombo said he does not think there is a single other guideline on preterm birth available in the literature. The team has also worked on a guideline on anemia in pregnancy to near completion. The guidelines will be finalized and available for relevant health care workers by the end of the year. UNFPA believes these guidelines will help reduce mortality and morbidity rates in Sri Lanka.