
The annual evaluation of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) activities of 2016 of Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital (SJGH), Nugegoda, Sri Lanka was held on 17th of January 2017. The chief guest of the occasion was the Director General of Health Services (DGHS) of Sri Lanka, Dr. J.M.W. Jayasundara Bandara. Dr.S.Sridharan, Director- Health Care, Quality & Safety, of ministry of health, nutrition & indigenous medicine of Sri Lanka also participated as a special invited guest.
While welcoming the guests Dr Kushlani Jayatilleke, Consultant Microbiologist of SJGH thanked all those who supported to have a successful IPC programme throughout the year. She presented the Guidelines on Core Components of Infection Prevention and Control Programmes at the National and Acute Healthcare Facility Level of World Health Organization, for which she contributed as a member of the Guideline Development Committee, to the DGHS. She explained how Healthcare Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance in Sri Lanka can be reduced by implementing those core components in Sri Lanka. The DGHS handed it over to the Director- Health Care, Quality & Safety for implementation.
The Chairman Dr Athula Kahandaliyanage and the Director Dr Susitha Senaratne, of the hospital addressed the gathering in addition to the DGHS and the Director- Health Care, Quality & Safety.
The deputy director of SJGH, Dr Santhushya Fernando, the Secretary of the Hospital Board of management Mrs Thilani Rajapaksha , Consultants of the hospital as well as the Matrons and nursing sisters of each unit, Liaison nursing officers in IPC from each unit, Public Health Inspectors of the hospital, Medical Record Officer, Supply Officer, chief MLT of the laboratory and other relevant staff also participated.
The summary of data on Healthcare Associated Infections with trend analysis and the activities carried out by the IPC unit in 2016 were presented by Mrs Benita Wijesinghe and Mrs Subha Buddhadasa, the IPC nursing officers.
The prizes were announced by Mrs Shashika Karannagoda the IPC nursing officer. The best 3 units in IPC activities were selected by using a pre-determined marking scheme considering, the activities related to IPC carried out by the units, their performance at monthly check list evaluation and audits and the participation of the members of the staff in IPC meetings and training programmes. The labour room won the first place while ward 9 and 10 secured the 2nd and the 3rd places respectively. The nursing sisters and the Liaison nursing officers in IPC who had best attendance at the Infection Prevention and Control Committee meetings were also given prizes. Nursing sisters of ward 8, ward 20, ICU and Labour room had highest attendance of 83% while the Liaison nursing officers in IPC in ward 10 and 9 had the highest attendance of 100% and 91% respectively.
Chief nursing officer Mrs. A. N. Saputhanthri thanked all those who graced the occasion and those who helped to organise the event.