HINI, Dengue fever on the increase in Colombo city

Colombo Central, the worst affected area

By Yohan Perera(Daily Mirror)

The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) yesterday said there had been 7 HINI patients in the Colombo city this month.

Public Health Officer of the CMC Dr. Pradeep Kariyawasam told the Daily Mirror these cases have been reported from Mattakkuliya, Kirillapone, Maligawatte and Dematagoda areas.

Five out of these cases were reported to be children under the age of three while the other two were over 20 years of age.

He said there had been 855 confirmed cases of dengue within the city this year.

Dr. Kariyawasam said there had been 1500 virus cases out of which 855 were confirmed having dengue. He said Colombo Central had been the worst affected area in the city.

The main reason for this was poor sanitary conditions in the city.

Dengue had killed 14 persons in the city during the year according to him. He said many of the city dewellers were not interested in keeping the common places clean.

The CMC has also filed action against 96 hotels during the year. However, Dr. Kariyawasam said most of the hotels were found to be clean during the festive season.

He said the owners might have cleaned up the mess as they were aware that the CMC usually carries out raids during this time of the year.
************************
I think the minister will be able to proceed with his deep sleep and lethargic attitude towards the health care issues of the country in new year as well.Keep it up Siripala!

Health officers to be given powers against illegal practitioners

By Gandhya Senanayake(Daily Mirror)

Moves are underway to give Medical Officers of Health the power to take action against illegal medical practitioners in their areas and the circular in this regard is in the process of being drafted and gazetted, Deputy Director General of the Management Services Branch Dr. S.T.G.R de Silva told Daily Mirror online.

He said that the exact number of illegal practitioners around the country is unknown with some reports numbering them to several hundreds, and said that there were already cases against some of these practitioners, that have been dragging on for some time

The Doctor added that it was difficult to arrest these culprits as they often used the authentic details of other doctors - when they were away or at practice- and added that the only way to arrest them was when complaints were received against them whilst practicing .
*************************************
Dear Colleagues,

What do you think about this new development.

Should We give "Police powers" to MOHs or "Doctor powers" to the police.
What is the role of the SLMC in this issue?

Two doctors among 7 in custody for robbery

2009-12-22 13:44:15

Seven persons including two doctors were taken into custody by the Galagedera police in connection with an attempted robbery in the area.

The men had come to the house at Akmeemana in Galagedera when the residents of the house were away and loaded the goods onto a lorry and were attempting to get away when they were apprehended.

The Police had been tipped off about the robbery attempt by neighbours.

(DW)-Sunday times online
**************************
What is going to happen to our profession!
Are these individuals,MBBS?

Are you absolutely sure?

One of our internet colleagues has sent us a private message,

"That they are politically unbiased, trust worthiness in handling funds of the membership, cleanliness of their characters with good track records and ability to lead an intellectual dialog"................are you absolutely sure?

The opinion we are holding is slightly different. Following constant and long term observation on the GMOA on its activities what we have understood is that the GMOA is on transformation.
For the benefit of the young crowd who are just joining this union let me tell you that there had been an era where the GMOA was acting as a leisure club, where doctors got together and shared urban folks while sipping a beer. While apologizing for making this comment from the ones who ran the GMOA at that era, we believe that this was the time when other health care categories climbed the ladder of salary scales and even by passing us.
Then there came an era where GMOA started talking about principles instead of people. But the TU officials had a very coarse regime, believe me that there was a notice on the meeting room door saying” No unauthorized admission”. The members were allowed only to meet the clerical staff unless there was a very valid reason to meet the trade union officials.
Then comes the present era…..
There may be dips and rises in this story of evolution, but definitely it is transforming from a rigid trade union to a better structure.


Then we will come back to the question “……….are you absolutely sure?”
All what we said has got no absolute value, but that of a comparative value in relation to their counterparts.

To elaborate a little bit on this, the objectives of our post were,
1.To highlight the good trade union qualities one who is wishing to lead the union should cultivate.
2.To show that the present Ex Co is there due to the lack of a reliable opposition, which we believe as a mandatory requirement in a democratic process.
3.To give a small credit to the few good qualities (RELATIVE) they (present ex co) posses.


THE PROFESSION NEEDS PEOPLE WITH TRADE UNION BLOOD TO LEAD THE GMOA.

Why are they there?

The individual who are now in the driving seat of the GMOA may not be efficient enough. Their vision for the future of the profession may not be broad enough. Their modes and ways of communication may not be friendly enough. Sometimes they may not be aggressive enough. In a nut shell they may not be up to the expectations of the profession.

Day by day, year by year they are there. May not be the same faces, but at least decedents of the same group. This sometimes has made some feel even angry and frustrated.

Let us see, why that is.
Simply it is due to lack of a reliable opposition.

When we are to analyze the individuals, who fought to get in to the GMOA driving seat in the recent 8 years,
1. Dr.Anil Ambawatta/ Dr.Senarathne and the group.+/_ Dr.Bellana
2. JVP group.
3. Dr.Sameera and Dr.Bellana group.(latest)

The individuals who are familiar with the GMOA elections may agree that Dr.Anil Ambawatta/ Dr.Senarathne and the group is always contesting for the elections and acting the role of “Wilson Karu “of Sinhala cinema. Persistently unable to develop any intellectual dialog among the membership while notorious about the inability to work and get on with the other health staff and collogues.

The group lead by the JVP proved their suitability for that title by the fact that they are now under the JVP flag (AC GMOA)
Then what happened last time. Most junior groups who are not exposed to the pattern of new appointments and poisoned by Dr Bellana were put forward with the backing of Dr.Senarathne, who is known to be defeated.

Now you may be witnessing the activities of Dr.Anil Ambawatta and Dr.Senarathne conversing for the General from ward to ward at NHSL. (Adding another disqualification to come to the driving seat of GMOA)

All these groups have become unable to demonstrate,

That they are politically unbiased, trust worthiness in handling funds of the membership, cleanliness of their characters with good track records and ability to lead an intellectual dialog.

Are we 100% happy with the performance of the present ex co.
NO,NO,NO

But,believe me,
The present group has become able fulfil the above few requirements for the past many years,although they are not up to the optimum in many other fields.
Please understand that these are some of the essential qualities,expected by the membership and which most individuals lack.

They do not earn anything other than
Spending their “family hours “and their “PP hours” for the GMOA,
Earning enemies, on “transfer matters”,
and the happiness that they are in the “GMOA EX CO” at the end of the day.

So if somebody is wishing for a “Brand new EX CO “
Please pay your attention to
Come as a fresh group (Do not get tagged with Dr”Wilson Karu”)
Cultivate the good qualities which the membership expects form you.
Learn how to develop and handle an intellectual dialog in professional matters.

The need of maintaining impartiality at the up coming presidential election.

Sri Lanka's medical professionals pledge support to the President
Tue, Dec 15, 2009, 11:18 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka's medical doctors and specialist physicians representing all the regions of the country met President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday (14) at the Temple Trees and pledged their support to the President at the upcoming elections.
The medical professionals commended the development projects in the health sector the government has implemented in the Northern and Eastern provinces.
The Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva was also present at the occasion

*************************
Dear Colleagues,
Please think how the general public will look at the following events,

*All Ceylon Government Medical Officers Association(JVP) is supporting the General.

*Government Registered Medical officers Association(even though RMPs are not doctors, they are also having the doctor tag)supports the President Rajapaksha.

*Sri Lanka's medical doctors and specialist physicians representing all the regions
of the country pledged their support to the President at the upcoming elections.

These events paint the doctor's image in party colours.

Luckily the name of our union has not been mentioned as supporting a particular party at the presidential election

We can do it!-How to break the vicious cycle of frustration?

Dear Colleagues,
The easiest, most successful, least damaging, time tested and most democratic point of intervention will be at the grass root level. This point is very strategically important due to many reasons.
1. New leaders are bloom from the general membership and the membership believes them.
2. Trade union lethargy is affected first and at the same time badly, to the membership.
3. If a decision is taken by well informed membership it is politically unbiased.
4. True enemies of the profession (politically biased trade unions) usually try to infiltrate via this level.
Above diagram is the simplified version,how to do this.

Open for discussion!
Thanks.