Third edition of 'SLMA Guidelines on Vaccines' launched
An updated edition of the Sri Lanka Medical Association's (SLMA's)
'Guidelines and Information on Vaccines' has been published and launched
in Colombo and is to be distributed to medical practitioners across the
country.
The 30 chapters of the book are written by 17 specialists from the
private sector, universities and the Government sector including six
from the Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health.
Speaking at the launch, Dr. Lucian Jayasuriya, Joint Editor and
Coordinator of the book said: "The SLMA took an important step in the
year 2000 in publishing the 'SLMA Guidelines on non-EPI vaccines.' It
filled a gap, as there was no reference book on non-EPI vaccines for the
Sri Lankan healthcare provider. It became a popular book among doctors
and medical students."
The chief guest at the launch was Dr. Dula de Silva, Deputy Director
General Public Health Services, Ministry of Healthcare and Nutrition.
Among the distinguished speakers at the event were Professor Lalitha
Mendis, President of the SLMA who made a presentation on 'Global polio
control,' and Dr. Omala Wimalaratne, Joint Editor, Consultant Virologist
and Vaccinologist and Head of Department of Rabies and Vaccines at the
Medical Research Institute (MRI) who spoke on 'Human rabies in Sri
Lanka: achievements and challenges.'
Dr. Iyanthi Abeyewickreme, Chair of the SLMA Committee on
Communicable Diseases presented first copies of the book to Dr. Dula de
Silva and Professor Lalitha Mendis. Professor Anura Weerasinghe, Joint
Editor thanked the authors of the chapters, the core review group and
GlaxoSmithKline for publication of the book.
The 17 specialists who contributed to the book's content are Prof.
Anura Weerasinghe, Dr. Risintha Premaratne, Dr. Ananda Amarasinghe, Dr.
Ranjith Batuwanthudawe, Prof. Jennifer Perera, Dr. Kanishka Karunaratne,
Dr. Nihal Abeysinghe, Dr. Omala Wimalaratne, Dr. Paba Palihawadana, Dr.
Prasanna Siriwardena, Dr. Sarath de Silva, Dr. Desmond Fernando, Prof.
Srimali Fernando, Dr. Iyanthi Abeyewickreme, Dr. Sudath Peiris, Prof.
Rohini Fernandopulle and Dr. Shalini Sri Ranganathan. |
