Neonatal Intensive Care Training for Medical Officers and Nursing Officers

Neonatal intensive care is a highly specialized and complex area of paediatric intensive care. It is of paramount importance that staff in these neonatal intensive care units are well-trained and familiar with the ideal management of the patients, if quality care is to be delivered. However, until now, there was no training for Medical or Nursing Officers who were starting work in Neonatal Units or Special Care Baby Units in the country.
Taking the above into consideration, the first ever National Intensive Care Training for Medical officers and Nursing Officers was inaugurated on the 22nd of March 2023 as a collaborative venture of the Perinatal Society of Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Health.

The ‘Introductory Guide to Neonatal Intensive Care for Medical and nursing staff of Neonatal Intensive Care Units’ was launched by the Perinatal Society of Sri Lanka in 2022 (pdf version is available under Publications), on which the trainings are based on. Prof. Dulani Gunasekara is the current Course Director of this NICU Orientation Course. This course will be very useful for the staff who have been newly recruited to the to the NICU settings, while being a continuous medical education activity for the staff who are already working in these settings.
Many Medical and Nursing officers attended this two-day training held at the Castle Street Hospital for Women. Director Castle Street Hospital for Women and many council members of the PSSL including the President – Dr. Susie Perera (DDG Public Health Services – II), Past President – Dr. Saman Kumara, Secretary – Dr. Asiri Hewamalage, Prof. Dulani Gunasekara, Dr. Surantha Perera and Dr. Himali Herath participated at the inauguration of the event. Several sessions on neonatal intensive care were delivered by Prof. Dulani Gunasekara, Dr. Shyama Basnayake, Dr. Nishani Lucas, Dr. Saman Kumara, Dr. Medha Weerasekara, Dr. Nalin Gamaathige, Dr. Surantha Perera, Dr. Sujatha Seneviratne and Dr. Nimesha Gamhewage. Pre-and post-tests were conducted, and participation certificates were awarded to the attendees.
In addition to this two-day training programme which focused on staff in the Western Province, multiple trainings are planned to be carried out covering all the provinces across the country.