CCPSL News Official Newsletter of the College of Community Physicians of January 2019, Volume 3, Issue 1 ISSN 2613-8352

Contents

The 24th Annual Academic Sessions of the College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka 2019 Journal of the College of Community Physicians of Sri The 1st South East Asia regional group meeting of the Lanka elevated to JPPS two level International Epidemiological Association (IEA) and Establishment of the Northern province - Provincial the 24th Annual Academic Sessions of the College of Chapter of the CCPSL Community Physicians of Sri Lanka 2019 will be held from 19th to 21st September 2019 in , Sri Representing the CCPSL on Media Lanka. This creates platform to bring professionals, Training program to improve micro condom skills among senior academics, researchers, policy makers in the service providers of key populations conducted by CCPSL field of public health together to share the latest A Life skill development programme for young offenders research findings and expertise on global and regional conducted by CCPSL issues related to public health. Teacher Training programme on Comprehensive Sexual Abstract submission - 01.01.2019 - 04.04.2019 Education Conducted by CCPSL Abstract selection notification -15.06.2019 Study days for MD Trainees conducted by CCPSL Registration open from - 01.01.2019 International Conference on Green Entrepreneurship Organized by the Colombo School of Business & Further details can be found on the website: Management http://seaiea2019.com/ Young CCP representatives for the CCPSL council ASCENT festival 2019 Notices ______------Journal of the College of Community College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka Physicians of Sri Lanka elevated to JPPS No. 06, ‘Wijerama House’, Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 7 two star level http://www.ccpsl.lk The Journal of the College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka (JCCPSL) has been Telephone: +94 114487139 elevated to JPPS (Journal Publishing Practices and Editor: Dr Ruwan Ferdinando Standards) two star level from its one star level. Email: [email protected] This is out of a possible 3 star level. ​

CCPSL News, January 2019

The immense dedication and hard work by the Office bearers and the council of the College of Co-editors and team is highly appreciated. Community Physicians of Sri Lanka 2018/2019 President: Dr Janaki Vidanapathirana President Elect: Dr Sapumal Dhanapala Please visit journal website https://jccpsl.ccpsl.org/ Vice President: Dr Nihal Abeysinghe Co-editors Immediate Past President: Dr. Hemantha Herath Secretary: Dr Anuji Gamage Prof. Carukshi Arambepola Treasurer: Dr Shiromi Maduwage Prof.. Shamini Prathapan Editor: Dr Ruwan Ferdinando College Editor Assistant Secretary: Dr Sashiprabha Nawaratne Assistant Treasurer: Dr. Suranga Malavige Dr. K.D.A. Ruwan Ferdinando Assistant Editor: Dr. Rangika Fernando Editorial board Ex Officio Prof. Chrishantha Abeysena Past Secretary: Dr Inoka Suraweera Dr. Sampatha Goonewardena Past Treasurer: Dr. Janaka Weragoda

Dr. Nirupa Chandanie Pallewatte Council members Dr. Manuja Perera Prof. Pushpa Jayawardena Dr. S M Arnold Ms. Mahishi Ranaweera Dr. V P S D Pathirana Dr. Sudath Samaraweera Dr. Murali Vallipuranathan Dr. Supun Wijesinghe Dr. Usha Perera Dr. Sathya Herath Prof. Upul Senarath Dr. Amanthi Bandusena Dr. Rajendra Surenthirakumaran Dr. Balachandran Kumarendran Dr. Manuja Perera Dr. Shreenika De Silva Weliange Dr. Nalinda Wellappuli International advisory board Co opted members - Officials from SEA/RGM of Prof. Ranjit De Alwis International Epidemiological Association Prof. Arvind Kasthuri Dr. Saveen Semage ______Dr. Mekala Fernando Dr. Jeewaranga Gunasekara Dr. Pubudu Chulasiri Dr. Priyanga Ranasinghe

CCPSL Newsletter: Editorial Committee

Editor: Dr Ruwan Ferdinando Editorial Committee Dr Rangika Fernando Dr Deepika Herath Dr Indeewaree Liyanage 'Be Smart' Facebook page by CCPSL is an ideal social Dr Buddhini Denuwara media platform to promote health messages among Dr Nayani Rajapaksha public, especially the youth. Dr Kumudu Weerakoon All members are invited to share health related Dr Sumudu Rajasinghe Facebook posts from other public health campaigns in it. Please find the link below: https://www.facebook.com/BeSmartCCPSL/

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Establishment of the Northern province - differentiating HIV and AIDS, modes of transmission Provincial Chapter of the CCPSL of HIV, modes of non-transmission, how to get tested for HIV and how to prevent the transmission of HIV. The Northern Province - Provincial Chapter of the CCPSL was formed and the first meeting was held on 18th December 2018 and Dr. Janaki Dr. Nayani Dharmakeerthi also represented the Vidanapathirana, President CCPSL participated in College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka for this first meeting. these medical discussions. She was interviewed in

Officer bearers: two programmes which discussed Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) and breastfeeding & President: Dr. R. Kesavan weaning. She discussed about the sexual behaviours Secretary: Dr. S.J. Thirumagal which pose a risk for STIs, symptoms of STIs, complications which could occur due to STIs and how Treasurer: Dr. Dinesh Coonghe to seek treatment, in her programme on sexually Adviser: Dr. R. Surenthikumaran transmitted infections. In her discussion on The initiation work was done by the previous council, breastfeeding and weaning, she discussed about led by Dr Hemantha Herath. Many activities have importance of breastfeeding, how and when to start been planned to update its members on new weaning, how to continue complementary feeding, evidence and to promote public among young and feeding during illness. medical professionals. Dr. Saman Pathirana also represented the CCPSL in ______the medical discussions on TNL Waidya Hamuwa, Representing the College of Community where he gave his inputs for four programmes. He Physicians of Sri Lanka on Media elaborated on dengue prevention in one programme, where he discussed about the history of dengue in Sri Lanka, vectors of dengue, importance of early identification of the infection, how to differentiate between dengue fever, dengue haemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome, and most importantly, the role of the public in preventing dengue. In his discussion on Non-Communicable Disease which spread through two programmes, he elaborated on the different non-communicable diseases including cancers, their symptoms, risk factors, complications, screening and investigations and on treatment and prevention. His fourth discussion on antenatal and post-natal care focused on the different services ‘Waidya Hamuwa’ on TNL TV provided through the MOH offices and the government hospitals for the antenatal and postnatal Dr. Mekala Fernando participated in two mothers in Sri Lanka. programmes in the ‘Waidya Hamuwa’ telecasted on TNL TV every Tuesday at 6.00 p.m. representing the College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka, where she discussed about chronic Non-Communicable Diseases and about HIV infection. In her discussion on chronic Non-Communicable Diseases, she explained about risk factors for chronic NCDs, how the screening for these NCDs is carried out and the measures to be taken for preventing them. Under the topic of HIV infection, she discussed about

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‘Hathai Kaala’ on Siyatha TV and Training program to improve micro condom ‘Liyapahasaraniya’ on Swadeshiya Sewaya - skills among service providers of key SLBC populations conducted by College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka

Four workshops were conducted by the College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka to improve micro Dr. Nimali Wijegoonewardene represented the skills of condomization among service providers for College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka in two key populations at grass root level on 15th and 21st programmes on ‘Hathai Kaala’ on ‘Siyatha TV’ which of November and 21st and 22nd December 2018. were telecasted on 28th and 29th of November at 7.15 ​ ​ Service providers for key populations ( female sex am, to discuss about prevention of child sexual abuse. workers, men who sex with men) from all the During her discussions, she talked about the different districts where interventions for prevention of HIV forms of child sexual abuse occurring in the and STI are being implemented participated in this community, vulnerable factors for child sexual abuse, event. This was conducted as an interactive session ( how to identify a victim of child sexual abuse by being group works and question and answer session) apart vigilant on the behavioural and physical signs shown from the introductory lectures delivered by resource and how to assist them in such a situation. Further, personnel (Dr Janaki Vidanapathirana, President of she discussed about how to prevent sexual abuse the College of Community physicians of Sri Lanka, Dr through empowering children and regular Sashiprabha Nawarathna and Dr Mekala Fernando, supervision, and also the importance of giving Registrars in community medicine). age-appropriate messages to children on getting protected. ______She also participated in the one-hour live radio programme 'Liya Pahasaraniya' on Swadeshiya A Life skill development programme for young offenders conducted by College of Community Sewaya of SLBC on the 18th of December to discuss ​ Physicians of Sri Lanka about this topic, representing the College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka.

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Sri Lanka in collaboration with Department of A Life skill development programme for young Community and Family Medicine, University of offenders was held in Jaffna on the 6th and 7th of Jaffna, the National STD/AIDS Control Programme, December 2018. This was a collaborative effort by was held on the 5th of December 2018 in Jaffna. the Department of Community and Family Medicine, This was conducted with the objective of training University of Jaffna, College of Community teachers in Health and Physical Education, Science Physicians of Sri Lanka and the National STD/AIDS and Counseling as Trainers of Trainers in Tamil on Control Programme. The objective of this key population and HIV prevention in the Northern programme was to empower the young offenders in province. Thirty five male and female teachers life skills to overcome their challenges. participated in this workshop from all five education Thirty five young offenders participated in this zones in the Jaffna district. workshop on the 6th December, while another 40 Dr. R. Surenthirakumaran, Consultant Community young offenders participated on the 7th. They were Physician and Senior Lecturer in Community all inmates living in the Certified School and Prison Medicine, Dr. P.A.D.Coonghe, Consultant Home for young offenders in Achchuveli Jaffna. Community Physician and Lecturer in Community Topics discussed during the programme included Medicine, Dr. C.S. Nachchinarkiniyan, Visiting adolescents, reproductive system, improving life Lecturer in Community Medicine, Dr. G. Tharani, skills and child abuse. Lecture discussions, group MO/STD, Teaching Hospital Jaffna and Dr. C.J. activities, role plays and video presentations were Mathanraj, Registrar in Community Medicine acted conducted. as the resource persons for this programme. Lecture The resource persons for this programme were Dr. discussions, group activities, role plays and video P.A.D. Coonghe, Consultant Community Physician presentations were held. The participants were and Lecturer in Community Medicine, Dr. C.S. provided with a guide on preventing child sexual Nachchinarkiniyan, Visiting Lecturer in Community abuse for programme implementers and parents, Medicine, Dr. T. Shivasankar, AMOH, Nallur, Jaffna titled “Every Child is Precious…” published by College and Dr. C.J. Mathanraj, Registrar in Community of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka. Medicine. This was organized by Dr. Sathya Herath, The participants gave feedback that their knowledge Consultant Community Physician & Council Member. on SRH was improved and that they developed The inmates were able to get appropriate knowledge positive attitudes toward teaching SRH in the schools regarding SRH issues and share their health issues and towards key populations and vulnerable with the resource persons through participating in populations. This was organized by Dr. Sathya this programme. Herath, Consultant Community Physician & Council ______Member. Teacher Training programme on ______Comprehensive Sexual Education Conducted by Study days for MD Trainees conducted by College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka A one-day Teacher Training programme on Following obtaining permission from the Board of Comprehensive Sexual Education (Tamil Medium) Study of Community Medicine at the Post Graduate organized by the College of Community Physicians of Institute of Medicine (PGIM), it was decided that the

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College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka would supply reduction, demand reduction, harm reduction conduct the study days for MD trainees in were highlighted in the lecture. Joint United Nation’s Community Medicine for the months of November, recommended interventions for HIV prevention, December 2018 and January 2019. treatment and care among people who inject drugs such as needle and syringe programmes, opioid The study day for the month of November 2018 was substitution therapy, HIV testing & counselling, held at the PGIM auditorium on the 19th November Antiretroviral therapy (ART), prevention & treatment 2018. This focused on policy analysis and the main of STIs, condom program for people who inject drugs resource person was Dr. Lathika Athuda (MBBS, and their sexual partners, targeted information, MPH) who is a lecturer at the Department of Public education & communication (IEC) for people who Health and currently reading for PhD in New inject drugs and their sexual partners, prevention, Zealand. There was a participatory discussion vaccination, diagnosis and treatment of viral herpes moderated by Dr. Lathika Athauda, followed by the were also discussed. Recommendations of this study journal club by Dr. Lathika Athauda and Dr. B. were structural and policy reforms, implementation Kumarendran. and scale-up of intervention programs, building The second study day was held on 17th of December capacities, generating data and utilizing the evidence. 2018 at PGIM. The resource persons were Mr Hans Mr Hans Billimoria delivered a lecture on ‘Prevention Billimoria, Director of the Grassrooted Trust, Dr. of sexual abuse through cyber exploitation’. The Janaki Vidanapathirana, Dr. Sathya Herath and Dr highlights of the lecture were that 50% of the Sri B.Kumarendran. Lankan youth spend 1-5 hours on social media per day while 10% of the respondents spend more than 6 hours per day on social media sites. Forty percent spend less than one hour per day on social media. Motivations for sharing nude photographs among youth were for love, sex/masturbation, curiosity, distance, trend/culture, sexual attraction, keeping the partner interested, data retrieval software/hacking, accidental, peer pressure / popularity, revenge / blackmail, money etc. Examples of sexual abuse through cyber exploitation were discussed as well.

Dr. Sathya Herath (Consultant Community Physician, National STD/AIDS control programme), delivered a lecture titled ‘Rapid assessment of drug user pattern in Sri Lanka & harm reduction programmes for drug users & present Sri Lankan situation’. The methods of the research and the results were discussed in detail and the strategies to address drug problem such as ______

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International Conference on Green Young CCP representatives for the CCPSL Entrepreneurship Organized by the Colombo council School of Business & Management: Dr. Himan The Council of the CCPSL has nominated two young Galappaththi participates as resource person CCPs to strengthen and facilitate involvement of representing College of Community Physicians young CCPs in the activities of the CCPSL and to of Sri Lanka address the issues of the young CCPs in the Council Meeting. Hereafter the agenda of the council will Dr. Himan Galappaththi, Registrar in Community have an agenda item on this to discuss these matters, Medicine, attached to Environmental & Occupational and these two officers will bring the matters of the Health Directorate, Ministry of Health delivered a peripheral CCPs and young CCPs to the council speech at the plenary session of the International notice. As a young CCP, any issues may be Conference on Green Entrepreneurship on ​ communicated to the council through: “Importance of Green Business to our Health” on 8th Dec 2018 followed by the panel discussion. 1. Dr. Pubudu Chulasiri In his speech Dr Himan Galappaththi highlighted the [email protected] current trends of temperature changes globally and in Sri Lanka, health hazards and effects due to climate 2. Dr. Priyanga Ranasinghe change and how business sector can help to reduce [email protected] the emission of green house gasses and go for green business. ______

ASCENT festival 2019

An International Conference on Capacity building for research and innovation in Disaster Resilience was be held on 14th to 18th January 2019 at Cinnamon Lakeside , Colombo, Sri lanka. It was organised by the University Of Moratuwa and the University of Colombo, and was chaired by Dr. Nishara Fernando and Dr. Chandana Siriwardhana. Visit http://www.ascent.disaster-resilience.net/index.php/

ascent-festival for more information ______Notices:

Save the date - Friendly Cricket match between CCPSL and College of Medical Administrators The CCPSL together with College of Medical Administrators Sri Lanka is planning to organize a friendly cricket match. Date: 03.03.2019 Time : 9 am onwards ______Venue : Shalika grounds Volunteers are welcome. Please contact Dr. Saveen Semage ([email protected])​ . ​ ______

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The best 5 photographs from the following categories of medical doctors, other health professionals and undergraduates will be published in the JCCPSL, displayed at the event of 1st South East Asia Regional Group Meeting (SEARGM) of the International Epidemiological Association & Annual Academic Sessions of the College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka 2019 to be held in September and will be awarded certificates. Also these will be displayed in the CCPSL Website (https://ccpsl.org/) and the SEARGM website (http://seaiea2019.com/). Theme of the photographs should be related to public health success stories and public health challenges in Sri Lanka. A brief narrative should also be attached along with the photograph.

Guidelines

Picture story: Picture stories are short, narrowly focused commentaries of contemporary interests based on a photograph. This may also be based on an illustration. The description / discussion based on it should arouse sufficient interest to warrant further ______comment or explanation. This type of commentary may discuss specific issues including the implications, within a subject area, rather than in the whole field. Opinions about implications are allowed as long as they are factually based. An example for a picture story would be a discussion of the impact of a new technology on disease control.

Cover story: Cover story depicts a historical or landmark occurrence in relation to public health in Sri Lanka or it could depict a major public health challenge. It does not need to be a specific issue in a given area but may consist of a broader public health issue / challenge / success.

Please email your photographs to editor at The Council of the College of Community Physicians [email protected] on or before 15.03.2019 of Sri Lanka (CCPSL) and the Editorial Committee of along with your name, designation and working place, the Journal of the CCPSL (JCCPSL) have decided to category (as mentioned above) and telephone organize "PubHealthphoto”, a photograph number. Selected ones will be notified by 15.04.2019. competition for the picture story and cover story For further information contact Dr. Ruwan items in the JCCPSL. Ferdinando (0718313489), College Editor, CCPSL. ______

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International Conference on Public Health and Well-being

______‘Essentials of Public Health in Sri Lanka’ The International Conference on Public Health and published Well-being will be held on 4-5 April 2019 in Negombo, Sri Lanka partnering with the Faculty of Essentials of Public Health in Sri Lanka, is a Health Sciences at Ankara University, Turkey. It will compendium designed by the staff of the Department be chaired by Prof. Sally Guttmacher, Professor of of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Public Health at New York University and Senior University of Sri Jayewardenepura by compilation, Technical Advisor, HealthRight International, USA, circulars and guidelines released by the Ministry of and Dr.Ruwan Ferdinando, National Institute of Health, Sri Lanka in the past five years in relation to Health Sciences (NIHS), Kalutara, Sri Lanka. public health. This will be a useful resource for medical and paramedical undergraduates and for Please find the link below.. postgraduate students to learn about services https://publichealthconferences.com/ provided by the state to the public, procedures ______followed in relation to prevention and control of specific diseases in Sri Lanka and measures taken to prevent disease and promote health. The compilation contains chapters on Maternal and child health services, family planning, Non communicable diseases, communicable diseases, demography, occupational health, environmental health, health promotion, health information system, health care system planning, management and quality and health economics. Price: Rs 2500/= (Concessionary price of Rs 1750/= for undergraduates)

This publication is available at the Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura. Please call Prof. Shamini Prathapan for any further queries on 0714852269. ______

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