SLMANEWS
Contents
THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE SRI LANKA MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
November 2012 Volume 05 Issue 11 Page No.
President’s Note Dear SLMA members, colleagues, friends November was a busy month for SLMA. The foundation sessions were successfully completed with the much awaited SLMA awards ceremony, the EM Wijerama Endowment Lecture and the Sir Marcus Fernando Oration adding colour to the event. The highlight of this year’s November however was the 12th FERCAP International Conference. This is the first time that the SLMA has hosted such an international congress. The success of the conference augurs well for the SLMA as we plan to increase our international presence with membership in the World Medical Association (WMA), Commonwealth Medical Association (CMA) and Confederation of Medical Associations in Asia and Oceania (CMAOO). We look forward to your presence at the final grand event for the year, the Medical Dance on 8 December 2012. Thank you. On behalf of the council of the SLMA,
SLMA Research Prizes and Awards 2012
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Second Annual Scientific Sessions of the Wathupitiwala Clinical Society
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Society, Medicine and Politics
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Anuradhapura Clinical Society 6th Annual Scientific Sessions
Award of Honorary Life Memberships
12th FERCAP International Conference and General Assembly
Prof. Vajira H.W. Dissanayake President, Sri Lanka Medical Assosiation, No.06, Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 07, Sri Lanka
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Sri Lankan Speakers at the 12th FERCAP International Conference
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Symposium on Collaboration, Ethics and Research Culture at the 12th FERCAP International Conference
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Comments from International Participants at the 12th FERCAP International Conference
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Highlights of the 12th FERCAP International Conference
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SLMA Awards for Excellence in Health Journalism
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Prof. Wilfred S. E. Perera Travel Award in Bioethics
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SIDCER Recognition Ceremony at the 12th FERCAP General Assembly
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Past Presidents of SLMA 29
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SLMA Research Prizes and Awards 2012 SLMA Research Prizes and Awards were awarded at the Inauguration of the Foundation Sessions on 9 November 2012. Amongst them were awards for papers at the 125th Anniversary International Medical Congress and general awards made every year.
Head table at the Inauguration of the Foundation Sessions. (From left) SLMA Secretary, Dr. Lasantha Malavige SLMA President, Prof. Vajira H. W. Dissanayake, Chief Guest and EM Wijerama Endowment Lecturer, SLMA immediate Past President Prof. S. P. Lamabadusuriya
Awards for Papers at the 125th Anniversary International Medical Congress 2012 E M Wijerama Prize OP 17: The prevalence, patterns and correlates of diabetic peripheral neuropathy in Sri Lanka
P Ranasinghe1, R Jayawardena2, G R Constantine3, R Sheriff 3, P Katulanda3 1 Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo 2 School of Human Movement Studies, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland Universities, Australia 3 Diabetes Research Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo
S E Seneviratna Prize OP 2: Live donor renal transplantation in Sri Lanka - factors affecting overall outcome
N Gunawansa, M Wijerathne, R Cassim, R Dissanayake, J Arudchelvam, N Senevirathne National Hospital of Sri Lanka, Colombo H K T Fernando Prize OP 34: Molecular diagnosis of Williams Buren syndrome in a cohort of Sri Lankan patients
DM Ranaweera1, D de Silva2, D Samarasinghe3, S Perera3, N Rajapaksha2, N V Chandrasekharan4 1 Post Graduate Institute of Medicine, University of Colombo 2 Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya 3 Lady Ridgway Hospital for Children, Colombo
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Colombo 4
Sir Nicholas Attygalle Prize OP 63: Waist-to-height ratio has the best anthropometric association with cardiometabolic disease among Sri Lankan adults
P Ranasinghe1, R Jayawardena2, WRUAS Wijesundara3, WMUA Wijetunga3, TAD Tilakaratne3, S Subasinghe3, P Katulanda3 1 Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo 2 School of Human Movement Studies, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University, Australia 3 Diabetes Research Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo
Contd. on page 6
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SLMANEWS
November, 2012 Contd.from page 4
SLMA Research... Wilson Peiris Prize OP 28: Knowledge, attitudes and size of the carbon footprint among medical students
CI Wijesinghe1, M Selvarajah1, D Wijesundara1, S Ranawaka1, T Chang2 1 Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo 2 Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo Daphne Attygalle Prize for the Best Paper in Cancer
Medicine, University of Colombo Sir Frank Gunasekera Prize for the Best Paper in Community Medicine and Tuberculosis PP 42: Geographical variations of goitre prevalence in Sri Lanka: visualisation with geographic information systems
R Fernando, A Pathmeswaran, S Nandasena Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya
OP 37: A novel approach to understand carcinogenesis in oral submucous fibrosis
Kumaradasa Rajasuriya Prize for the Best Paper in Tropical Medicine
P Illeperuma1, YJ Park1, WM Tilakaratne2, J Kim3, RP Illeperuma3 1 Oral Cancer Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, Korea 2 Department of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Dental Sciences, University of Peradeniya 3 Modern Medicine Unit, Institute of Inediginous
PP 169: Snakebites in children- a five year retrospective review of victims admitted to two hospitals in Sri Lanka
YC Jayasinghe, A Kasturiratne, SASG Samaraweera, HJ de Silva Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya Special Prize in Cardiology OP 68: GSTM2 C terminal domain alters the contractil-
ity and Ca2+ transients in cultured ventricular cardiomyocytes
R P Hewawasam Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ruhuna S Ramachandran Prize for the Best Paper in Nephrology OP 5: Histopathological changes in liver and renal tissues in Wistar rats given bore well water from CKDu endemic areas in North Central Province
MG Thammitiyagodage , C Rathnayake1, MM Gunatillaka1, N Ekanayake1, R Jayatissa1, UKSC Gunarathne2, WMMU Jayathilake1 1 Medical Research Institute 2 Regional Epidemiology Unit, Polonnaruwa 1
Slma Prize for the Best Poster PP 20: Epidemiology of stroke in the district of Colombo, Sri Lanka: a community-based study
T Chang1, S Gajasinghe2, C Arambepola3
Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Colombo 2 Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo 3 Department of Community Medicine, University of Colombo 1
General Awards The CNAPT Award In Memory Of Richard and Sheila Peiris for the Best Publication in Medicine or in an Allied Field in the Year 2011
Awarded to the book on “Landscape analysis to accelerate actions to reduce maternal and child under nutrition in Sri Lanka” by Dr. Renuka Jayatissa and Prof. Dulitha N Fernando Glaxo Wellcome Research Grant
Awarded to Dr. Inoshi Atukorala, Senior Lecturer Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Colombo to conduct the study on “Prevalence of early rheumatoid arthritis in a semi urban area in Sri Lanka”
Winners of SLMA research prizes and awards with the Chief Guest, SLMA President and SLMA Secretary. (From left) P Illeperuma, DM Ranaweeera, YC Jayasinghe, R P Hewawaam, Renuka Jayatissa, R Fernando, MG Thammitiyagodage, N Gunawansa, T Chang
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November, 2012
Second Annual Scientific Sessions of the Wathupitiwala Clinical Society
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his was a very successful joint venture between Wathupitiwala Clinical Society and the Sri Lanka Medical Association. This Annual Scientific Sessions was held on 6th October 2012 at Hotel Hot Edge, Nittabuwa with a great atmosphere with wonderful participation from all the hospitals nearby, preventive sector, and general practitioners. The theme of this year’s sessions was “Better Care at Periphery”. There was wide range of lectures covering all specialities from very eminent clinicians. The symposium on Initial Management of Trauma organized by Consultant Anaesthetist, Dr Tharanga Perera was one of the highlights of the session. It was encouraging to see the backing given by the regional administrators with participation of Provincial Director of Health Services, Dr Amal Harsha De Silva, Deputy Provincial Director of Health Services Dr.A.L.A.L.Pathmasiri, and Medical Superintendent Base Hosptial Wathupitiwala Dr Sisira Wijesundera. The SLMA was represented by Prof. Vajira H. W. Dissanayke (President, SLMA) and Dr Lasantha
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Malawige (Secretary, SLMA). Other senior members of the SLMA, such as Dr Malik Fernando, who participated in this meeting, brighten the occasion. Dr Philip Veerasingham the Senior Consultant Surgeon declared opening the Web site for Wathupitiwala Clinical Society. http://clinicalsocietywathupitiwala. com/index.html He said that the Wathupitiwala Clinical Society would be one of the first peripheral clinical societies to open a web site and that he is so happy to see the use of advance IT technologies by Doctors for better care of patients. The function was brought a live by some social events too. During the tea break there was a short Drama Directed by Wathupitiwala Base Hospital Consultant Physician Dr Thusith Gunawardena with Doctors of Base Hospital Wathupitiwala acting. Lunch was proceeded by a Traditional Cocktail (Kithul Toddy with Manioc and Katta Sambal) brought tears to the senior members with nostalgic memories of Joint Clinical Meetings years back. The meeting concluded with expectations of an even better Clinical Meeting in 2013.
Special Invitees Lighting the Oil Lamp
WCS President Dr MAK Perera Delivering the Welcome Address
Section of the Audience
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Society, Medicine and Politics
Text of the address made by Senior Minister of Scientific Affairs Hon Prof. Tissa Vitharana at the Inauguration of the 44th International Conference of the Asia Pacific Academic Consortium for Public Health
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t is indeed a great privilege as well as a pleasure for me to speak at this important international conference on public health, which is being hosted by the Faculty of Medicine that I studied in, but it then belonged to the single University of Ceylon of that time. This is where Professor Senaka Bibile, my teacher, friend and Socialist Party (LSSP) colleague, developed his Drug Policy, that WHO has adopted as a model for all developing countries. Let me first, on behalf of the President and the Government, welcome you warmly to our beautiful island nation. We are now at peace after over 30 years of conflict and war. We have now to cope with its legacy – the problems of physical and mental
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trauma and the economic and social consequences to the affected people, the gun culture and underworld violence that it spawned, and even Big Power bullying, which is the reward for eliminating terrorism. I am a member of the National Polio Eradication Committee, and just as we ensured that every child was immunized in the country, including those in the LTTE occupied areas, during the war, our Government will overcome the legacy of the war. As a poor country, that has become a low middle income country only in the last few years, we have achieved much in terms of health indices (low maternal and infant mortality, life expectancy). At this conference I would like to pay a tribute to all those in
Professor Tissa Vitarana delivering the speech
the public health field who helped to achieve this and to take the programme effectively to the village level. But we have to thank many others in different fields outside the health sector as well. The politicians of the past who struggled to achieve the free health service and the free education service in a welfare state that has contributed so much to such an outcome. The fact that our country got universal adult franchise in 1931, before any other British colony, helped, and the Socialist Party formed in 1935 made the demands with justification, and in order to get the votes, others rushed to implement those policies. Contd. on page 12
During my long career as a doctor, researcher and then a politician I have come to appreciate the truth of what the famous German pathologist, Rudolf Virchow said in 1948, “Medicine is a social science and politics is nothing more than medicine on a larger scale.� In the field of medicine public health is the most important. The emphasis today however is different.
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Contd.from page 10
Society, Medicine... Pathways for the global public health community are clearer. We have to improve governance for health and development with participatory policymaking. The health sector should be further oriented towards promoting health and reducing health inequities, with monitoring of progress and accountability. A government has to consider Health as a rallying point for all its policies. This brings in the centrality of politics and the whole of government policymaking to promote health.
But these positive factors may lead to negative outcomes resulting in newly emerging health problems. Having educated youth with aspirations that the level of development of the economy could not satisfy led to two youth uprisings in the South, and contributed to the conflict and war in the North. This calls for rapid economic development to prevent any recurrence of such tragedies. With the increase in the old age category, the need has arisen for homes and home visitors for the elderly. This is in addition to the increase of worldwide problems like drug resistance due to indiscriminate use of antibacterial medicines, and diet and lifestyle as-
sociated problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity. During my long career as a doctor and researcher (I was Director of the Medical Research Institute and Professor of Microbiology) and then a politician (Minister of Science and Technology) I have come to appreciate the truth of what the famous German pathologist, Rudolf Virchow said in 1948, "Medicine is a social science and politics is nothing more than medicine on a larger scale." In the field of medicine public health is the most important. The emphasis today however is different. The public health system earlier was focused more on the control of infectious diseases so as to improve maternal
and child survival. But today the health burden in Sri Lanka and the region has transformed dramatically – more non-communicable disease, lifestyle and diet as well as stress and drug related problems, trauma and post-disaster problems in addition to newly emerging infections and drug resistance. It is clear that these challenges require a coordinated thrust in several sectors. Gone are the days when a Ministry of Health could stand alone and face such a multiplicity of health problems. Governments have to consider health as a rallying point for all its policies. We have to shift from the concept of Public Health policies to the concept of Healthy Public policies. Contd. on page 14
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Contd.from page 12
Society, Medicine... Therefore we need to take a direction from initiatives emerging from the 1978 Alma Ata Declaration right up to the most recent Rio Political Declaration on Social Determinants of Health adopted by the World Health Assembly in May 2012. In the latter instance member states have reiterated that inequities within and between countries are politically, socially and economically unacceptable, unfair and largely avoidable. We are committed to take action on social determinants of health as collectively agreed by the World Health Assembly and reflected in resolution WHA 62.14 that hopes to "Reduce health inequities through action on the social determinants of health". The pathways for the global public health community are clearer. We have to improve governance for health and development with participatory policymaking. The health sector should be further oriented towards promoting health and reducing health inequities, with monitoring of progress and accountability. A government has to consider Health as a rallying point for all its policies. This brings in the centrality of politics and the whole of gov-
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ernment policymaking to promote health. Multi-Sectoral Approach – This calls for a multi-sectoral approach. As Senior Minister of Scientific Affairs I have been given the mandate to coordinate and monitor the scientific and science related activities of all line ministries, and scientific institutions within those ministries. Thus with regard to the health sector it will be possible to set up virtual institutions to achieve a multi-sectoral approach to tackling health related problems. There is a need to do adequate and appropriate multisectoral research in relation to emerging health problems. To give an example, one of the serious problems relates to chronic kidney disease of unknown aetiology (CKDU) that is widely prevalent in
the North Central and Uva Provinces of this country. A multi-center study is underway coordinated by WHO. There are several suspected causative factors identified such as arsenic and cadmium in associate with a possible role for fluoride and hard water. The National Science Foundation, when I was the Minister of Technology and Research, did some initial coordination and provided 70 per cent of the required funds for the study. But what is emerging from the study is that there is a definite causal relationship to the use of toxic factors related to the use of chemicals in agriculture. The preliminary findings are soon to be published in an international peer reviewed journal. Contd. on page 34
There is a need to do adequate and appropriate multi-sectoral research in relation to emerging health problems. To give an example, one of the serious problems relates to chronic kidney disease of unknown aetiology (CKDU) that is widely prevalent in the North Central and Uva Provinces of this country. A multi-center study is underway coordinated by WHO.
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November, 2012
Anuradhapura Clinical Society 6th Annual Scientific Sessions
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th Annual Scientific sessions of the Anuradhapura Clinical Society (ACS) was held in the sacred city of Anuradhapura form 16th-18th October 2012, which was a huge success with a participation of more than 450 delegates and around 40 resource persons. Events began on 16th October with 2, half day workshops for nursing officers at TH Anuradhapura on “Advanced cardiac life support “which was well attended. These workshops were aimed not only to give an opportunity to learn recent advances but also to recognize the services provided by the allied health staff in improving the patient care. The “Research Ethics work shop” was held at Faculty of Medicine Rajarata university on 17th October was attended by 40 researches from the area. This was jointly conducted by the Forum for Ethics Review Committees in Sri Lanka and the Ethics Review Committee, of the Faculty of Medical and Allied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka. On the same day the pre congress sessions jointly organized with the Sri Lanka Heart Association (SLHA) was held at the Nurses Training School auditorium with more than 200 doctors from the North Central, Northern and Eastern provinces participating. This event was a huge success with 12 cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons as resource persons covering wide range of topics related to day to day clinical practice. This was the first time in the history of ACS that an event of this caliber was organized and executed with overwhelming success. Contd. on page 34
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Academic procession enters the hall
Special guests at the inauguration. SLMA Secretary, Dr Lasantha Malavige, SLMA president Prof. Vajira Dissanayake, ACS President, Dr Darshana Sirisena Chief Guest Hon. H.B. Semasinghe .
Section of the Audience
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Award of Honorary Life Memberships Honorary Life Membership of the Association is awarded to honour distinguished personalities who have contributed to the Association and the Profession.
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he Council of the Association on the recommendation of the Honours Committee, decided to honour two outstanding members of the Association for the service rendered to the Association and the Medical Profession by conferring Honorary Life Memberships. This decision was ratified by the members of the Association at a General Meeting of the Association held on 2 November 2012. The awards were conferred by the SLMA President, Prof. Vajira H. W. Dissanayake, at the Inauguration of the Foundation Sessions of the SLMA on 9 November 2012. The two recipients were Prof. Priyani E Soysa and Dr C. G. Uragoda. The citations were read by Dr. BJC Perera, President Elect. The two Citations, which document the lifetime contribution made by these illustrious medical personalities to the Association and the Medical Profession is produced below:
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Professor Priyani E Soysa Chief Guest Professor Sanath Lamabadusuriya, President and the Council of the Sri Lanka Medical Association, Past-Presidents, Honorary Life Members, Life Members and Members of the Sri Lanka Medical Association, distinguished invitees, I have the singular honour to present to you Professor Priyani Elizabeth Soysa, MBBS (Ceylon), DCH(England), MD (Ceylon), D.Sc (Ruhuna) Honoris causa, FRCP Edinburgh, FRCP London, FRCPCH, UK, FCCP (SL), FSLCPaed, FCGP(SL), Fellow of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science and Emeritus Professor of Paediatrics of the University of Colombo. Born to Millen and Beatrice De Mel in Moratuwa, Priyani had her entire primary and secondary education at Princess of Wales College. She excelled at all examinations and sailed through junior and senior Cambridge together with London Matriculation, all with distinctions and in the first division. She was a School Prefect and
the Sports Captain, excelling in Tennis, Netball and Athletics. She was the Schools’ Athletic Champion for two successive years. Her sporting prowess continued into her university life in the Colombo Medical Faculty and she participated in Netball, Tennis and inter-faculty sports meets. She passed the MBBS examination with First Class Honours with distinctions in Medicine, Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Pharmacology and subsequently obtained her other numerous qualifications. She is the first woman to obtain the MD Ceylon and the very first Lady academic to be appointed into a Professorial Chair in the Sri Lankan University system. Prior to her appointment as the Professor of Paediatrics in 1966, she served the Sri Lankan National Health Service as a Consultant Paediatrician in Jaffna, Ratnapura and Kurunegala. She has been honoured with innumerable awards including Senior Commonwealth Fellowship, Visiting Professorship Australian College of Paediatrics, Guest Scientist FAO
SLMA President, Prof. Vajira H. W. Dissanayake presenting the Honorary Life Membership Plaque to Prof. Priyani E Soysa
SLMANEWS Bangkok, Zonta Woman of Achievement for Medicine, Highest popularity award for medical & law professionals by Vanitha Viththi, Vijaya Publications, Most distinguished woman doctor SLMA and University of Colombo Alumni Association distinguished academician. She was the Centenary Orator of the Sri Lanka Medical Association in 1997. She has contributed immensely in the international arena through very many positions as a Consultant and Advisor to the World Health Organisation, United Nations and The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. She has held the positions of the Presidency of The Sri Lanka Paediatric Association, Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, Sri Lanka Medical Association, Nutrition Society of Sri Lanka, Ceylon College of Physicians, Crippled Children’s Association of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka Women in Public Health Network, Medical Women’s Association together with Membership of the Advisory Board, Christian Children’s Fund and the Vice Presidency of the Commonwealth Medical Association for Central Asia. She has been a Member, Board of management Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Science, Council Member of the Council of Agricultural Research of the Sri Lanka Standards Institute and Commissioner, Presidential Commission on Non-governmental Organisations. Currently, she is the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of SLMA, Chairperson of the National Health Research Council, Board Member for the Centre for Women’s Research and Chairperson of the National Committee for Certification of Eradication of Poliomyelitis. Professor Soysa is an unparalleled academic with over 100 publications in Peer Reviewed Journals, on many diverse topics. Widely known for her pioneering research in Nutrition and Infectious Diseases, she was also
November, 2012
instrumental in imposing regulations restricting advertising of infant formula milk, and formulating the national policy on breast feeding, which recommended Exclusive Breast Feeding for 4-6 months. She fought valiantly and managed to secure the current maternity leave benefits to breast feeding mothers. Young Priyani De Mel married Dr Ananda Soysa of ENT fame in 1951 and for both of them it has been a blissful family life for the last 61 years. They have four daughters about whom we learnt a great deal during our studentship with their mother. It was also such a delight to meet those four ladies personally for the very first time a few years back at a felicitation ceremony for Professor Soysa and I was able to proudly declare that I knew all about them. In every era, there are people who stand out, head and shoulders above the rest, for their contribution to humanity. These are the people who have wonderful visions and dreams for the future and strive steadfastly and tirelessly to fulfil them. Professor Priyani Soysa is one such personality. She is undoubtedly a renowned and fearless campaigner, a fabulous torch bearer and the most famous Trail Blazer for Paediatrics in Sri Lanka. Her life and work will resonate throughout the corridors of time and will be indelibly written in gold for posterity. I consider it an exceptional dispensation to have been afforded the priceless opportunity of learning the basics of Paediatrics at the feet of such a great teacher. I still remember many a thing that she has taught me and most importantly the lessons she taught, mainly by example, on certain moral and ethical values in life. I still continue to learn so very much from her. She has indeed been a superlative role model for all paediatricians in general and a God-mother to me in particular. Mr President, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am singularly privileged and
greatly delighted, to present to you, Professor Priyani Elizabeth Soysa for the award of the coveted title of Honorary Life Member of The Sri Lanka Medical Association.
Dr C G Uragoda Chief Guest Professor Sanath Lamabadusuriya, President and the Council of the Sri Lanka Medical Association, Past-Presidents, Honorary Life Members, Life Members and Members of the Sri Lanka Medical Association, distinguished invitees.., I have the superlative assignment of presenting to you, Dr Christopher Gunapala Uragoda, MBBS, MD, DSc – Colombo – Honoris causa, Fellow of the Ceylon College of Physicians, Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of -London, Fellow of the Faculty of Occupational Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians of London, Fellow of the American College of Chest Physicians and Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences of Sri Lanka for the award of Honorary Life Membership of The Sri Lanka Medical Association. Dr Uragoda was Physician in charge, Central Chest Clinic, Colombo from 1973 to 1988 and Physician, Chest Hospital, Welisera from 1988 to 1994. He has been a member ofthe SLMA since 1968, Joint Editor of the Ceylon Medical Journal for 20 years, and now it’s much valued Editor Emeritus. He was also Editor of the Journal of Ceylon College of Physicians and The Journal of the National Academy of Sciences. Dr Uragoda has held the Presidency of the Sri Lanka Medical Association, Sri Lanka Medical Council, Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka, Ceylon College of Physicians, Kandy Clinical Society and been the Chairman of the Ceylon National Association for the Prevention of Tubersulosis – CNAPT, for ten fruitful years. He was a member of the World Health Organisation Expert Panel on Chest Diseases and Tuberculosis for 20 long years. Contd. on page 30
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November, 2012
12th FERCAP International Con
Development, Ethnicity, Culture and Ethical Health Re
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he Sri Lanka Medical Association, University of Colombo and the National Science Foundation has taken the leadership in promoting protection of patients taking part in Medical Research in Sri Lanka by jointly hosting the 12th Forum for Ethical Review Committees in Asia and the Western Pacific (FERCAP) International Conference at Waters Edge, Colombo from 18 to 21 January 2012. Over
Over 400 delegates from 108 leading Hospitals and Medical Universities in the Asia Pacific Region met at the 12th FERCAP International Conference and General Assembly. 20
400 delegates from 104 of the leading Hospitals and Medical Universities in the Asia Pacific region meet to discuss how patient protection can be done in a manner that promotes development and advancement of medical sciences while taking into account social and cultural values of people of different backgrounds living in different parts of the world under the theme – Development, Ethnicity, Culture, and Ethical Health Research. The SLMA President Prof. Vajira H. W. Dissanayake, who was instrumental in ensuring that Sri Lanka won the right to host the conference, commenting on the conference, said that it is a great honour for Sri Lanka to host this conference given the long tradition of medicine in Sri Lanka. According to the Mahavamsa, the ancient chronicle of Sinhalese royalty, written in the sixth century A.D., King Pandukabhaya of Sri Lanka (reigned 437 BC to 367 BC) had lying-in-homes and hospitals (Sivikasotthi-Sala)
built in various parts of the country. This is the earliest documentary evidence we have of institutions specifically dedicated to the care of the sick anywhere in the world. The hospital built by King Sena II (852- 887 AC), in Mihintale, Sri Lanka is the oldest in the world. Ruins of ancient hospitals in Sri Lanka are still in existence in Mihintale, Anuradhapura, and Medirigiriya in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka. Prof. Arjuna Aluwihara of the University of Peradeniya will be making a keynote presentation on “Contex-
tual Lessons from Surgical Archaeology” highlighting the implications of the knowledge of our forefathers on modern medical research. Ruins of the Ancient Hospital at Mihintale Surgical instruments found at an ancient hospital site in Sri Lanka Given this background the Chairperson of FERCAP Prof. Kenji Hiriyam of Japan said that Sri Lanka is the most appropriate place to host this conference on the theme “Development, Development, Ethnicity, Culture and Ethical Health
ANEWS
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nference and General Assembly
esearch
Research”. Sri Lanka’s Pioneering Contribution to Medicine in the Modern Era comes in the form of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, established in 1870. It is considered the undisputed matriarch of medical education in Sri Lanka. It has been a leader in medical training and research not only in this country but also in Asia. At 142 years, it is one of the oldest medical schools anywhere in Asia and Australasia. The Ethics Review Committee of the Faculty, established in 1981,
is one of the first research ethics review committees to be established anywhere in the region. It was also the first Ethics Review Committee in Sri Lanka to receive recognition under the Strategic Initiative for Development of Capacity in Ethics Review (SIDCER) programme of the World Health Organisation (WHO) when it was recognised in 2009. The Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo Today The Sri Lanka Medical Association is the oldest national medical Association in Asia and Australasia. At its inception, 125 years ago in 1887, the Association was called the “Ceylon Branch of the British Medical Association”. Sixty four years later, on 5 November 1951 it was renamed the “Ceylon Medical Association”. On 15 November 1956 the Association became independent of the British Medical Association. Finally on 17 November 1972, after Sri Lanka became a republic, it was renamed the “Sri
Lanka Medical Association”. The Association holds an anniversary International Medical Congress which has been held unbroken every year for 75 years since 1937. The Association publishes the Ceylon Medical Journal which is the oldest English language medical journal in Asia and Australasia. The “Wijerama House” in Colombo, the Headquarters of the Sri Lanka Medical Association The conference was held in Sri Lanka at a very important time for Sri Lanka when the country is looking at rapid economic development through investment in Research and Development. In that background, developing the necessary human resources and infrastructure to conduct research in an ethical manner is very important. This conference will go a long way towards human resources development to build capacity for research ethics review in the country. Contd. on page 29
Sri Lanka’s Pioneering Contribution to Medicine in the Modern Era comes in the form of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, established in 1870. The Ethics Review Committee of the Faculty, established in 1981, is one of the first research ethics review committees to be established anywhere in the region. 21
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Sri Lankan Speakers at the 12th FERCAP International Conference Prof. Hemantha Senanayake University of Colombo, Professor in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Prof. Hemantha Senanayake delivering his lecture on “Ethical Research and Diseases of Poverty” on behalf representing the World Health Organization Tropical Disease Research Programme (WHO-TDR)
Dr Chandanie Wanigatunga
Prof. Asita De Silva National Steering Committee for Clinical Trials in Sri Lanka, Member Prof. Asita De Silva delivering his lecture on “Improving the Environment for Clinical Trials in Sri Lanka”
Prof. Hemantha Senanayake
Prof. Arjuna Aluwihare University of Peradeniya, Emiretus Professor of Surgery, Prof. Arjuna Aluwihare delivering his lecture on “Contextual Lessons from Surgical Archaeology?”
Prof. Asitha De Silva
Dr Ashwini De Abrew Sri Lanka Clinical Trials Registry Managemetn Committee, Member Dr Ashwini De Abrew delivering her lecture on “Utilization of Clinical Trial Registry for Better Health Research”
Prof. Arjuna Aluwihare
Dr Chandanie Wanigatunga University of Sri Jayewardenapura, Ethics Review Committee Chairperson, Dr Chandanie Wanigatunga delivering her lecture on “Reviewing Traditional Medicine Research in Sri Lanka”
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Dr Ashwini De Abrew
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Symposium on Collaboration, Ethics and Research Culture at the 12th FERCAP International Conference In Collaboration with the Biomedical and Health Experimentation in South Asia (BHESA) Project at the 12th FERCAP International conference
B
iomedical and Health Experimentation in South Asia (BHESA): critical perspectives on collaboration, governance and competition is a research collaboration between the Universities of Edinburgh (UK), Durham (UK), and Colombo (Sri Lanka), Social Science Baha (Nepal), and the Anusandhan Trust (India).
The project is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and The Department for International Development (DfID) research scheme. It is an "arms-length" funding scheme by the United Kingdom government. The collaborating teams are: • University of Edinburgh, UK – Roger Jeffrey, Ian Harper • Durham University, UK – Robert Simpson, Salla Sariola • Anushan Trust, India – Amar Jesani,
Naha Madhiwala, Anuj Kapilashrami, Deapica Ravindran • Social Science Baha, Nepal – Rekha Khatri, Jeevan Raj Sharma • University of Colombo, Sri Lanka – Vajira H. W. Dissanayake, Tharindi Udalagama The project explored the relationships between experimental scientific enquiries in medicine and public health, the pharmaceutical industry, and developmental programmes, to assess their impact in South Asia.
Using case studies of experimental projects in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka such as research collaborations that connect international researchers with local institutions, personnel and populations, the networks were analysed through ethical, socioanthropological, political and economic frames. The website of the project is http://www.bhesa.org
Project team with the chairpersons at the Symposium. (From Left) Prof. Roger Jeffery, Tharindi Udalagama, Anuj Kapilashrami, Prof. Vajira H. W. Dissanayake, Dr. Roli Mathur, Prof. Robert Simpson.
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November, 2012
Comments from International Participants at the 12th FERCAP International Conference From: Francis P. Crawley [fpc@ gcpalliance.org]
It was such a privilege to be in Sri Lanka for the FERCAP Conference. You and your team in Sri Lanka did a wonderful job organizing the meeting and making everyone feel so welcome. Francis P. Crawley is the Executive Director of the Good Clinical Practice Alliance – Europe (GCPA) in Brussels, Belgium and a World Health Organization (WHO) Expert in ethics. He is the co-founder and a Steering Committee member of the Strategic Initiative for Developing Capacity in Ethical Review (SIDCER). From: Greg Koski [GKOSKI@PARTNERS. ORG]
Thanks for allowing me to be part of the FERCAP family and thanks for the wonderful Sri Lankan hospitality. Greg Koski is the Chairperson of the Advisory Committee of the Strategic Initiative for Developing Capacity in Ethical Review (SIDCER). He is also an Anesthetist in the Cardiac Anesthesia Group; Senior Scientist, Massachusetts General Hospital/Partners Institute for Health Policy; and Associate Professor of Anesthesia, Harvard Medical School From: Kenji Hirayama [hiraken@ nagasaki-u.ac.jp]
Congratulations for your big success in hosting the FERCAP conference in 2012. On behalf of FERCAP Steering committee members, I would like to give a sincere gratitude to your nice hospitality to all the participants in the 12th international conference and general assembly in Colombo. We all enjoyed stay and somehow
understood your culture. Kenji Hirayama is the Chair of FERCAP and Professor, Department of Immunogenetics, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Japan From: Cristina E. Torres [cristina.torres@ yahoo.com]
Just want to commend you for a very well organized conference. I wish you more success and looking forward to a more meaningful collaboration. Cristina E. Torres is the Co-ordinator of FERCAP. She is a Social Science Professor and Consultant in Research Ethics. From: CJChen [chencj@gate.sinica.edu. tw]
Congratulations on organizing such a successful international conference with a record-breaking number of participants. CJ Chen is a Board Member, FERCAP Steering Committee and Former Minister of Health of Taiwan From: Marita Reyes [maritavtreyes@ yahoo.com]
I arrived home yesterday - safely and happy over the proceedings of the a12th FERCAP conference. Thank you for being such a gracious host. The airport reception, the hotel accommodation, the smooth running of the conference and the quality of the presentations - all contributed to the success of the meeting. Marita V. T. Reyes is co chair of the Philippines Health Research Ethics Board From: Phub Sangay [psangay@gmail.com]
Thank you sir for the wonderful experience we had at Colombo during FERCAP conference
Phub Sangay is the Chief Statistical Officer at the National Statistics Bureau, Thimphu, Bhutan From: Sopit Thamaree [Sopit.T@chula. ac.th]
On behalf of members from Med. Chula. IRB and the University IRB, we would like to congratulate for your success in organizing the 12th FERCAP Conference. Our group from Chulalongkorn Medical School and Chulalongkorn University enjoyed the meeting and also visiting the interesting places in beautiful country. We will visit Srilanka again when we have opportunity. Thanks for very warm hospitality. Sopit Thamaree is a member secretary of several Institutional Review Boards in Thailand including the one in the Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand From: Sangeeta Desai [sangeetabdesai@ gmail.com]
I reached Mumbai just now. Thanks for impeccable organization of the FERCAP conference. Sangeeta Desai is Professor & Pathologist, Former Member Secretary, Institutional Ethics Committee Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, India, and Chairperson, Ethics Committee, Prince Aly Khan Hospital, Mumbai, India From: Roli Mathur [rolimath@gmail.com]
Heart Congratulations on the grand success of the FERCAP Conference. I must thank you and your team for making it a wonderful experience. The conference was well organised and all arrangements were in place to make our stay comfortable. I thoroughly enjoyed my first visit to Sri Lanka. Contd. on page 27
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November, 2012
Highlights of the 12th FERCAP International Conference
The Chief Guest Prof. Anoja Fernando, Members of the FERCAP Steering Committee, and Special Invitees being lead into the conference hall by SLMA President Prof. Vajira Dissanayake; SLMA Secretary Dr Lasantha Malavige.
SLMA President Prof. Vajira Dissanayake Presenting a special plaque to Chief Guest Prof Anoja Fernando in recognition of her outstanding service to Bioethics as the Immediate Past President, Asian Bioethics Association; Chairperson, Ethics Review Committee, Sri Lanka Medical Association; Founder Chairperson, Forum for Ethics Review Committees in Sri Lank; and Chairperson, National Committee on Ethics in Science and Technology, National Science Foundation, Sri Lanka.
FERCAP Chairperson Prof. Kenji Hiriyama of Nagasaki University, Japan welcoming the delegates
Sri Lankan delegates were the members of the Ethcis Review Committes of the University of Colombo, University of Jaffna, University of Kelaniya, Univeristy of Ruhuna, University of Sri Jayewardenepura and Medical Research Institute. SLMA President Prof. Vajira H. W. Dissanayake welcoming the delegates
Some of the Asian and European international delegates.
University of Colombo, Faculty of Medicine, Dean Prof. Rohan W Jayasekara welcoming the delegates
Delegates viewing the posters describing the ethics review committees in the Asia Pacific Region.
FERCAP Steering Committee; (From Left) Vicente Belizario Jr. [Philippines, FERCAP Board Member], Cristina Torres [Philippines, FERCAP Co-ordinator], Magdarina Destri Agtini [Indonesia, FERCAP Board Member], Vichai Chokevivat [Thailand; SIDCER Chair], Vajira H. W. Dissanayake [Sri Lanka, FERCAP Board Member], Juntra Karbwang Laothavorn [Thailand, Former Head, Strategic Quality Management, WHO-TDR and Founding Member, FERCAP], Kenji Hirayama [Japan, Chair FERCAP], Aphornpirom Ketupanya [Thailand, FERCAP Board Member], Roli Mathur [India, FERCAP Board Member], Chien-Jen Chen [Taiwan, Former Minister of Health, Taiwan], Young Mo Koo [South Korea, FERCAP Vice Chair]
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November, 2012
SLMA Awards for Excellence in Health Journalism
T
he Sri Lanka Medical Association Awards for Excellence in Health Journalism are awarded every year to recognize excellence in Health Journalism. We have been making these awards since the year 2003. This year marks the 10th year of these awards. The SLMA received many applications. A panel consisting Dr Waruna Gunathilake, Prof. Ganganath Dissanayake, Dr M K Muruganandan and Dr V Murali and Prof. Saroj Jayasinghe evaluated the submissions and selected the winners. The award for the best feature article of the year in the Sinhala
medium was won by Uthpala Subhashini Jayasekara of the Lakbima Newspapers (Private) Limited for her article “දරැවා එක්වරම පාසැල් යාමට මැලිවිවන ෙහ් තු දැනගනිමු” The award for the best feature article of the year in the Tamil medium was won by M H F Husna of Thinakkural Publications for her article “පෙට්රෝරැක්කු එච්චරික්කයි” (Warning to Parents). The award for the best feature article of the year in the English medium was won by Carol Rhoni Aloysius of the Rivira Media Corporation for her article “Geriatric Care: Lanka’s biggest challenge”. This year, with the view to encour-
aging health education on nutrition, we introduced a new award, the best feature article of the year on nutrition. There were no submissions in Sinhala and Tamil for this award. The award for the best feature article of the year on nutrition in the English medium was won by Carol Rohni Aloysius of the Rivira Media Corporation for her article “Breast milk is a child’s right – WHO” The awards were presented at the Inauguration of the Foundation Sessions of the SLMA on 9 November 2012 at the SLMA auditorium.
The winners of the Health Journalism awards with the Chief Guest, SLMA President and Secretary; (From left) M H F Husna, Uthpala SubhashiniJayasekara and Carol Rhoni Aloysius
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November, 2012
Prof. Wilfred S. E. Perera Travel Award in Bioethics
T
he Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) is pleased to announce the establishment of the above mentioned award with a generous donation made by Prof. Wilfred S.E. Perera MJF, MBBS, FRCS(Ed), FRCS (Eng), FRCOG, FSLCOG, FAOFOG, FSLCS, HonFCGP (SL) distinguished Past President of the SLMA. Annually one or more travel awards will be made to members of Ethics Review Committees (ERC) in Sri Lanka recog-
nised under the Strategic Initiative for Development of Capacity in Ethics Review (SIDCER) of the World Health Organisation (WHO), administered by the Forum for Ethical Review Committees in Asia and the Western Pacific (FERCAP), to attend the annual FERCAP International Congress to represent their committees. Applications for the Travel Award will be called at the time of calling for annual awards of the SLMA. This award will be made starting in 2013.
Contd.from page 24
Comments from International... Roli Mathur is a Board Member of the Steering Committee of FERCAP. She is also Program Officer for Human Genetics, Bioethics, Hematology, Anatomy, Anthropology, Animal Ethics, Bioinformatics & Short Term Studentships in the Division of Basic Medical Sciences, Indian Council of Medical Research From: Jin Huang[john70550@163.com]
We have arrived in Shanghai safely. The FERCAP annual conference just closed has deeply impressed me. It is no doubt that you and your teams combined with FERCAP organizers have definitely hosted an excellent FERCAP annual conference. We had opportunity to not only commu-
nicate with FERCAP family members from different countries and area to exchange ideas on ethics review, but also enjoy the Sri Lankan food, dance, history, culture and heritages to learn about ethical attitude very well from each other. It is must be an important event to improve the research ethics review capacity building and standardization in the history of Srilankan and FERCAP. During the meeting, I have briefly reported the conference in live to the more than 50 ethics committees in China through our QQ instant message platform. Jin Huang is Secretary, Chaihai Hospital Ethics Committee, Shanghai Changhai
Hospital, Second Military Medical University, China From: Bob Simpson [robert.simpson@ durham.ac.uk]
Many thanks again for your hospitality and the brilliant way you and your team hosted the conference. It was a very impressive feat of organisation and a real credit to you all. Bob Simpson is Professor of Anthropology at the Durham University, UK. He is a member of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics working party on donation of human tissue. He has spent many years in Sri Lanka as a researcher during his student days and during his sabbatical years.
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November, 2012
SIDCER Recognition Ceremony At the 12th FERCAP General Assembly
T
wo Sri Lankan Ethics Review Committees received recognition has having reached Strategic Initiative for Development of Capacity in Ethics Review (SIDCER) of the World Health Organisation (WHO) standards at the General Assembly of the Forum for Ethical Review Committees in Asia and the Western Pacific
(FERCAP) on 21 November 2012. These are the only SIDCER recognised Ethics Review Committees in Sri Lanka. This committee was recognised as having reached SIDCER standards in November 2009. This year, they were re-evaluated and the recognition was extended for a further 3 years up to 2015.
The Ethics Review Committee of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo The Ethics Review Committee of the Faculty of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Science, Sri Jayewardenepura University. This committee was recognised as having reached SIDCER standards this year.
Members of the Ethics Review Committee of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo lead by Chairperson Prof. Hemantha Senanayake and Secretary Dr Enoka Corea with the recognition renewal certificate.
Members of the Ethics Review Committee of the Faculty of Medical Sciences, Sri Jayewardenepura University lead by the Chairperson Dr Chandanie Wanigatunge and Secretary, Vathsala Jayasuriya with the recognition plaque.
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November, 2012
Past Presidents of SLMA
1992
Dr Malik Fernando MBChB (Bristol) Dr Malik Fernando spent his professional life in Sri Lanka as a medical officer in the Kolonnawa Terminal of
the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation. He is one of the few doctors who have been President of the SLMA from the non-institutional sector. He has been a Council member for many years and an active member and live wire of many of its committees including the Snake Bite Expert Committee, Ethics Committee, and the Ethics Review Committee. He has had wide interests in nature and outdoor activities and has been able to acquire knowledge in areas not generally ventured into by other doctors. Being a keen SCUBA diver his Presidential address was titled ‘Some Hazards of Diving’ and dealt with such topics as decompression sickness and stings by jellyfish and other venomous marine animals. He has been a member of the Expert Committee on snakebite since its inception in 1983 as a result of his
interest in sea snakes and is now its Secretary; he has edited a number of its publications (Snakebite: Prevention and First Aid – 1993; Guidelines for the Management of Snakebite in Hospitals – 1996 poster; Guidelines for the Management of Snakebite in Hospitals – 2005 & 2007 on CDROM). He has been the Chair of the Ethics Committee since 1993 and helped set up the Ethics Review Committee in 1998. He has represented the SLMA as a member of the National Bioethics Committee (2005 - 2008) and the National Committee on Ethics in Science and Technology (2008 - 2010) both of the National Science Foundation. He has also represented the SLMA in the Organisation of Professional Associations from 1991 to 2012. Professor Saroj Jayasinghe was the Honorary Secretary in 1992.
Contd.from page 21
12th FERCAP International... Therefore the conference is expected to have a positive impact on the countries research and development agenda which is highlighted by the National Science Foundation joining hands to co-host the conference with the Sri Lanka Medical Association and the University of Colombo. Delegates from Australia, Belgium, Bhutan, Botswana, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand¸ Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thaiwan, Thiland, UK, USA and the Host Country, Sri Lanka, participate in the conference. At the FERCAP general assembly held on 21 November 2012, the Ethics Review Committee of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo which had been recognised under the SIDCER programme of the WHO,
administered by FERCAP, as having reached SIDCER standards was had its recognition renewed for another period of 3 years; while the Ethics Review Committee of the Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura was recognised for the first time as having reached SIDCER standards. Prof. Vajira H. W. Dissanayake was awarded a special plaque by the FERCAP in recognition of his dedication and unswerving commitment to human subject protection in supporting the FECAP initiatives for capacity building of ethics committees. Prof. Dissanayake thanked the FERCAP Steering Committee for having awarded this conference to Sri Lanka and for the support that they extended to the Sri Lankan team to
organize the conference. On a personal note, he said that “Ever since I became a member of FERCAP, I have always wanted to host FERCAP in Sri Lanka because of the enormous contribution FERCAP is making to protect human subjects taking part in research by developing capacity for research ethics review in the Asia Pacific Region including in Sri Lanka. This conference therefore has been a personal dream come true.” The conference was a resounding success. It was the first time that the Sri Lanka Medical Association had hosted an international conference of this nature and another milestone in the annals of the oldest national medical association in Asia and Australasia.
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November, 2012
Contd.from page 19
Award of Honorary... In the past, Dr Uragoda has been honoured with the Guinness Award from the Commonwealth Science Council- London, the Rev. Fr. Peter Pillai Award for promoting Social Justice, The Sri Lanka Executive President’s Award for Scientific Achievement, Sarvodaya Award for Advancement of Humanity, Development and Peace, Hilda Obeysekera Medal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka and Distinguished Membership of the Faculty of Occupational Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians, London. In recognition of yeoman service to the National Health Service and the nation, the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka bestowed on him the National Honour of Deshabandu in the year 2004. Dr Uragoda has published over 80 papers on a sparkling galaxy of subjects such as Tropical Occupational lung diseases related to tea, cinnamon, limonite, chilli, kapok, coir, sulphur dioxide bleaching of choir, graphite, granite, whole-grain wheat, activated carbon, rice, silk and spices. His published work has embellished the Ceylon Medical Journal and many other international journals in the UK, USA, India, Holland, Australia and the renowned World Health Organisation publications. He has authored ten books on a variety of subjects and contributed a chapter to the Oxford Text Book of Medicine-3rd edition. He was the author of the Centenary Volume of the SLMA in 1987, the Centenary volume of the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society of Sri Lanka and the sesquicentennial volume of the Royal Asiatic Society. Dr Uragoda, the unassuming and gentle Colossus among the contemporary medical practitioners of Sri Lanka, who singlehandedly carried the torch for these diseases, not only in Sri Lanka but also right across the
30
SLMA President, Prof. Vajira H. W. Dissanayake presenting the Honorary Life Membership Plaque to Dr. C. G. Uragoda
globe internationally. He is unquestionably the much valued doyen of these two disciplines in Sri Lanka. No one else has done as much and still remained so humble about all his fabulous achievements. Indeed, he is the epitome of the man for all seasons, renowned for his integrity and character, a person of such high calibre that he is the essential embodiment of what it means to be a man. No matter the circumstance or time, he always rose to the challenge of being the man that providence has created him to be. From a personal point of view, in the context of my own abiding interest in paediatric respiratory diseases, I have been ever so enriched by my many associations with Dr Uragoda. He has been a mentor of sorts and definitely a glittering role model. Many are the times when he had responded, ever so promptly, to my requests for help with medical literature. Several of these were in those halcyon days, well before the arrival of computers, internet and word processors. Communication was through snail-mail but he would respond virtually by return of post. My gratitude
for those acts of supreme kindness has no boundaries whatsoever. I have definitely been that much richer academically for all those invaluable contacts, with a man like no other, in this land like no other. In every profession there are individuals, who in their lifetime, are justifiably accorded a historical position and recognition because of their achievements and the impact they make on their peers, Dr C. G. Uragoda is one such person. He is listed in the internet as a Sri Lankan Physician, Author, Folklorist, Historian and a Conservationist. That must surely be the ultimate accolade for a man who has accomplished so much in a lifetime. The eternal web has recorded him as a shining beacon for generations to come and forever more. Mr President, Ladies and Gentlemen, it is with great humility and tremendous joy that I wish to present to you Dr Christopher Gunapala Uragoda, the gentle giant of respiratory medicine, as a most deserving recipient, for the award of the much admired title of Honorary Life Member of The Sri Lanka Medical Association.
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SLMANEWS
November, 2012 Contd.from page 14
Society, Medicine... As this is an urgent matter, it is necessary to take some action from a public health point of view. Is there a case for stopping the use of artificial chemicals in agriculture in the affected areas? There have been similar problems related to the use of agricultural chemicals in some African and Latin American countries like Nicaragua. In any case there is the emerging problem globally of toxic chemical accumulation in ground water, which has to be addressed. Should we not be asking the question whether it is not time to switch over to organic fertilizer and pesticide free natural methods of agriculture, based on what was traditionally practiced? With the benefit of modern science there is evidence that there should not be any drop in yields. I am glad that when the present Minister of Health, Hon. Maithripala Sirisena, was the Minister of Agriculture the promotion of organic farming
was accepted as an objective of the National Agriculture Policy he developed. Perhaps the time has come to take drastic action, the powerful artificial fertilizer and pesticide lobby notwithstanding. It is my view that there should be a close nexus between the laboratory and the public health workers. When I was the Director of the Medical Research Institute I advocated setting up the Epidemiology Unit there. This has been done successfully at the Centres for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, USA. Advanced Technology – I am glad that you have included a symposium on Nanotechnology in public health in your program, which I have been asked to chair. Our region has a rich biodiversity, and Sri Lanka has been identified as a hotspot, and when the world is turning away from artificial medicines towards those of natural origin, we should make use of advanced technologies like Bio-
technology and Nanobiotechnology to develop our pharmaceutical products tapping our rich biodiversity. We need to develop vaccines that are effective against diseases like HIV and dengue. Those aware of the health problems, their cause and their solutions like you, have a responsibility to apportion the responsibility for prevention and overcoming them to the various players according to the causal factors. In the words of Joseph Stiglitz, Nobel Laureate in Economics, "We can achieve a society more in accord with our fundamental values by investing more in our society – in education, access to health care, technology and infrastructure. Another world is possible." There is much of importance that needs to be discussed at this conference. I thank you for having invited me to participate in the inaugural ceremony, and I wish you a highly successful and fruitful conference.
Contd.from page 16
Anuradhapura Clinical... The pinnacle of the activities, the inauguration and main congress was held on 18th October at Hotel Palm Garden Village. The congress was in collaboration with SLMA. The Health Minister of the North Central Province, Hon. H.B. Semasinghe, deputized as Chief Guest representing the Minister of Health Hon. Maithripala Sirisena who was unable to make it, and SLMA president Prof. Vajira Dissanayake, was the guest of Honour. The sixth volume of the “Anuradhapura Medical Journal (AMJ)” was also launched during the inauguration cer-
34
emony. There were nearly 200 delegates participating in the Congress which consisted of symposia and plenary lectures. The symposium on “Health Challenges of North Central Province” was chaired by Prof.Vajira Dissanayake. Dr Tilak Sirisena,Consultant Cardiologist and Dr Rajeeva Dasanayake, Consultant Nephrologist from the Teaching Hospital Anuradhapura made short presentations on challenging issues related to Anuradhapura district while Dr.Haritha Dharmakeerthi, Consultant Anesthetist and President of the Polonna-
ruwa Clinical Society made a presentation representing the Polonnaruwa District. This symposium focused on many health challenges faced by the largest province in the country and lack of cardiac catheterization facilities was highlighted by the Consultant Cardiologist which needs attention of the relevant authorities. It was highlighted that the Teaching Hospital Anuradhapura was the third largest hospital in the country and that it serves three provinces in the Northern part of the country. The Symposium on professionalism was a novel experi-
ence to the delegates. All guest lecturers were delivered by resource persons who were experts in their fields. Three best research papers were selected by a panel headed by Prof. Vajira Dissanayake. The sessions concluded with the “ACS dinner“ held at Gajaba regiment pool side at Saliyapura which was an unforgettable experience for more than 400 invitees. Senior pediatrician and President Elect SLMA Dr B. J. C. Perera was the Chief Guest and his presentation on his journey as a doctor was a palate cleanser for the invitees.