Summary of WAAW 2023 Activities

by · January 7, 2024

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World Antimicrobial resistance Awareness Week 2023 activities conducted by the Sri Lanka College of Microbiologists

 

In parallel to the World Antimicrobial resistance Awareness Week (WAAW) 2023, which was declared from 18th  to 24th  November 2023, the Sri Lanka College of Microbiologists (SLCM) together with the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) conducted several activities as follows under the theme ‘Preventing Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) together’

A National Event was held on 22.11.2023, in Colombo with the participation of Dr Ramesh Pathirana - Hon. Minister of Health, Dr Alaka Singh – WHO Country Representative for Sri Lanka, Dr Palitha Maheepala – Secretary to the Ministry of Health, Dr Asela Gunawardena – The Director General of Health Services and several other stakeholders.

 

1. SLCM WAAW 2023 Provincial Level Activities

The two programmes were conducted

  1. Awareness Programme on AMR for Prescribers was conducted in 5 provinces (Central, Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western) targeting Consultants, Medical Officers and General Practitioners.Central P. - TH Kandy Eastern P. - TH Batticaloa
    Northern P. - PDHS Office Jaffna
    Southern P. - DGH Matara

    Western P. - MRI

  2. Awareness Programme on AMR for Pharmacists was conducted in 4 provinces (Central, Eastern, Southern and Western) targeting pharmacists from public and private sector.Central P. - TH Peradeniya
    Eastern P. - TH Batticaloa
    Southern P. - TH Kararpitiya

    Western P. - MRI

The following SLCM members prepared the resource material (i.e. pre-test and post-test questionnaires, lecture presentations, Case-based discussions).

  1. Dr Madhumanee Abeywardena – Pre-test and Post-test
  2. Dr Nadisha Badanasinghe - Gravity of the AMR problem, types of antimicrobials, and a brief introduction to AMR mechanisms
  3. Dr Deepika Priyanthi - Introduction to antimicrobial stewardship programme, its usefulness and implementation and an introduction to the AWaRe classification of antimicrobials
  4. Dr Kishani Dinapala - Rational use of antibiotics
  5. Dr Gayana Guneratne - Preventing antimicrobial resistance together
  6. Dr Vaithehi Francis - Preventing antimicrobial resistance together
  7. Dr Samanmalee Gunasekara - Current AMR situation, types of antimicrobials and AWaRe classification of antimicrobials
  8. Dr Wasana Kudagammana - Laws and Regulations
  9. Dr Dilini Nakkawita - Role of the pharmacists in tackling AMR
  10. Dr Thanuja Ranasinghe - Introduction to National guideline on empirical antibiotic treatment
  11. Dr Primali Jayasekera - Tips for antifungal prescribing/ Pharmacist’s role in preventing antifungal resistance
  12. Dr Ishara Premathilake - Rational use of antivirals/ Responsible dispensing of antivirals

The SLCM wishes to thank Dr Muditha Hapudeniya, Consultant in Health Informatics who coordinated the activities from the Ministry of Health end and all team members in SLCM, MoH and WHO, Sri Lanka who contributed in numerous ways to make the WAAW 2023 Provincial level activities a resounding success.

2. SLCM WAAW 2023 University Activities

  1. Inter Faculty Quiz Conducted Among Medical Undergraduates

The Sri Lanka College of Microbiologists (SLCM) together with the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) conducted an inter-faculty quiz for 3rd and 4th year medical students. The quiz was held on 15th November 2023 and eleven medical faculties participated.

The resource persons for the preparation of quiz questions were selected from Hospital Microbiologists who did not have a conflict of interest. The questions were scrutinized Prof. Nelun de Silva and Dr. Malka Dassanayake. Prof. Nelun de Silva served as the Quiz Master. The quiz was centrally conducted from the SLCM Office while the teams from eleven medical faculties, joined online via the Zoom platform and the Kahoot App facilitated by WHO.

The following resource persons contributed in preparing questions:

  1. Dr Kumudu Karunaratne
  2. Dr Rohini Wadanamby
  3. Dr Nilanthi Pitigalage
  4. Dr Naamal Jayawardena
  5. Dr Roshan Jayasuriya
  6. Dr Muditha Abeykoon
  7. Dr Kishani Dinapala
  8. Dr Lakmini Yapa
  9. Dr Thanuja Ranasinghe
  10. Dr Dhananja Namalie
  11. Dr Priyanka Wimalagunawardena
  12. Dr Saranga Sumathipala
  13. Dr. Rashmi Leukebandara

The winners of the quiz:

1st  Place: Team from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya

  1. Ahamed M. Y. S.
  2. Premarathna R. A.
  3. Rodrio S. S.
  4. Peiris L. C. D
  5. Mallawa M. S.R (Reserve student)

 

2nd  Place: Team from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo

  1. Doluweera D. G. M. S.
  2. Wijewardena S.M.
  3. Siriwardana T.D.M.L.
  4. Narangoda S.T.P.
  5. Illangasinghe S.N. (Reserve student)

 

3rd  Place: Team from the Faculty of Medicine, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University

  1. O/C VDR Matharaarachchi
  2. UAS Ryhan
  3. FFA Hamid
  4. RSSP Kachchakaduge
  5. O/C MDR Lakshitha – (Reserve student)

 

The winning teams were awarded cash prizes funded by SLCM amounting to Rs. 50,000.00, 30,000.00, 20,000.00 from the 1st to 3rd places respectively along with the certificates.

All the students of the teams who took part was given a certification of participation.

The organisers wish to acknowledge the assistance given by Mr. Shakthi Ariyasiri (Virtual Designer, WHO Sri Lanka), the SLCM members mentioned above, the two office secretaries - Ms. Priyanga Opatha and Ms. Amanda Jayasooriya, to make this event a success by providing support throughout the process.

 

  1. Inter-Faculty Drama Competition Conducted Among Medical, Dental, Veterinary, Nursing, Allied Health, and Agriculture Undergraduates

Sri Lanka College of Microbiologists (SLCM) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organisation organized an inter-faculty drama competition to commemorate the World Antimicrobial resistance Awareness Week (WAAW) from 18th to 24th November 2023. In the concept of “one health” approach, this competition was open to undergraduate students from faculties of Medicine, Dental Sciences, Veterinary Medicine, Nursing, Allied Health Sciences and Agriculture in 12 universities in the country.

Central organizing team from SLCM was comprised of Prof. Jananie Kottahachchi, Dr. Nadisha Badanasinghe, Dr. Thusahri Dissanayake and Dr. Chathuri Gunasekera. Coordinators from each faculty were selected to facilitate the student activities.

The theme was “Preventing Antimicrobial Resistance Together with One-Health Concept”.

There were 24 video submissions from 16 faculties in 10 universities.

A panel of 3 judges evaluated the dramas on 16th November via a central online facilitation by the SLCM Office.

The panel of judges:

  1. Priyankara Rathnayake, Senior Lecturer, Department of Drama, Cinema and Television, Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya
  2. Sampath Perera Lecturer, Department of Drama, Cinema and Television, Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya
  3. Balachandran Devakanthan Consultant Microbiologist, Teaching Hospital, Batticaloa.

The 3 best dramas selected by the panel of judges:

1st  Place

"Overඩෝස් (Overdose)" from the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura

2nd  Place

"Let us together stop AMR through One Health Approach" from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Jaffna

3rd  Place

"සැවොම එක්වෙමු - ප්‍රතිජීවක ප්‍රතිරෝධීතාවය අවම කරමු." (Let us all join together – and reduce antibiotic resistance’) from the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura.

The winning teams were awarded cash prices funded by SLCM amounting to Rs. 50,000.00, 30,000.00, 20,000.00 from the 1st to 3rd places respectively along with the certificates. All the students of the teams who took part were given an e-Certificate.

The organisers wish to thank the two SLCM office secretaries, Ms. Priyanga Opatha, Ms. Amanda Jayasooriya and the web administrator, Ms. Piume Madushani who contributed immensely to make the event a success providing technical support throughout the process.

 

  1. Go Blue for AMR – WAAW 2023 Awareness Programmes

Members of SLCM conducted several Awareness Programmes across the country. Consultants in Microbiology and other related subspecialties in hospitals and universities took the leadership in organizing these activities.  the Administrators of each institute extended their fullest support in making these prgrammes a reality in several places including the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital, Apeksha Hospital, Teaching Hospital Jaffna and Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya. SLCM wishes to thanks all the organisers and participants who contributed.

Apeksha

FoM, Univeristy of Peradeniya

IDH

Jaffna

SJGH

 

  1. Awareness programmes on mass media and social media

The SLCM took the initiative of conducting several mass media and social media programmes to reach the public aiming awareness on AMR. A satisfactory viewership was noted for these programmes.

Media Files >>

 

Report compiled by:
Dr Chathuri Gunasekera,
December 2023

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