Sunday Nov 24, 2024
Sunday Nov 24, 2024
Tuesday, 24 September 2019 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
International Epidemiological Association (IEA) held its first South Asia regional group meeting in Sri Lanka, parallel to the 24th annual academic sessions of the College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka (CCPSL.) The event was held between 19 and 21 September at Cinnamon Grand Hotel, Colombo.
These sessions were attended by local and international health professionals and this can be considered a victory for Sri Lanka and a demonstration of the development of the Sri Lankan health sector. This meeting was held in Sri Lanka as the health sector continued to meet international standards under the guidance of the Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine Dr. Rajitha Senaratne. Over 450 epidemiologists took part in the International Epidemiological Association’s South Asia regional group meeting. Through the meeting professionals across the world expect to foster closer ties to each other.
The International Epidemiological Association comprises of epidemiologists spread across over 100 countries. The Association works in Sri Lanka with the College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka. The event was themed ‘Shaping a Healthy Future – Youth as a Smart Investment’. This theme that is linked with the Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations, focuses on the need to focus investments, financial and other, on the youth to ensure that a country can obtain development sustainably.
Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, who has led the recent transformation in the Sri Lankan health sector, was the chief guest of the event. Hanaa Singer, the UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Sri Lanka, Professor Umesh Kapil and Professor Chandra Mani Pandey represented the International Epidemiological Association, spoke at the inauguration.
Sivananthi Thanenthiran, Executive Director of Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women gave the keynote address. Dr. Janaki Vidanapathirana, Chairman of College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka and its secretary Dr. Shavin Semage and a number of other Sri Lankan community physicians were also present. A number of community physicians were awarded for the services done for the sector.
It is expected that the knowledge and information obtained during these sessions will help improve the Sri Lankan community health sector.
