17th Annual Scientific Congress Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians

Monday, 25 August 2014 00:03 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians (SLCP) held their 17th Annual Scientific Congress from 26 to 29 July at Waters Edge, Battaramulla. This year’s theme was ‘A healthy start for a healthy future’. The inaugural ceremony of the Congress was held at the BMICH. The Chief Guest at the Congress was Dr. Kim Dickson, Senior Advisor on Maternal and Newborn Health, UNICEF, New York and the Guest of Honour was Dr. T.L. Chambers OBE, FRCP, former High Sheriff of Bristol.

SLCP President Prof. Dulanie Gunasekera together with the 2013/2014 council of the SLCP organised a comprehensive program which included the participation of foreign and local lecturers who have excelled in their respective fields of interest. The program consisted of symposia, plenary and guest lectures covering the major sub-specialty areas in paediatrics such as neonatology, oncology, respiratory medicine, cardiology, neurology, allergy, communication skills and many more. Two Pre-Congress Workshops were held on 26 July 2014 at the BMICH focusing on the ‘Current immunisation strategies and scope for the future’ and the ‘Quality of newborn care – exploring windows of opportunity’. During this pre congress, Dr. Kim Dickson, Senior Advisor for maternal and new born health, UNICEF New York, spoke on the ‘Health Systems bottle necks and strategies to accelerate scale up’. Dr.Paba Palihawadana, Chief of the Epidemiological Unit spoke on the Extended Program of Immunisation (EPI) and the Sri Lankan situation, while Prof. S. Lamabadusuriya focused on the need for the inclusion of pneumococcal vaccination in the EPI program in Sri Lanka. Dr. Thomas Cherian, co-ordinator, EPI Programme, WHO, Geneva, spoke on ‘Global Strategies & Vaccine Action Plan’. The sessions also included two memorial orations. The Prof C.C. De Silva Oration was delivered by Dr. Jithangi Wanigashighe on ‘The scope for a better outcome in infantile spasms – what is the evidence’. The Dr Stella De Silva Orator was Dr. Shaman Rajindrajith, whose oration was on ‘Constipation in children: from misty to understanding’. A Post Congress Workshop on ‘Paediatric and neonatal nursing’ was also held. Unilever’s most trusted baby care brand, Pears was present throughout this event to enlighten and educate the attendees about the mobile ‘Pears Happy Baby Learning Centre’. This new initiative by Pears aims to disseminate baby care expertise to all Sri Lankan mothers, by joining hands with multiple baby care partners in the country including the College of Paediatricians.