On December 18th, 2021, Saturday night in the US, December 19th, Sunday morning in the UK and Sri Lanka, and Sunday afternoon in Australia, the Sri Lanka Foundation Medical hosted the International Medical Webinar to educate and bring awareness on “What We Need to Know About Omicron” to a global audience.
The program commenced with a welcome by the Sri Lanka Foundation staff, Achala Weerasinghe, the Director of Cultural Affairs & Director of Operations for the Academy of Performing Arts, followed by the Host, Keshini Wijegoonaratna, Director of Project Management & Public Relations, and Co-Host, Chamodh Amarasinghe, the Media Director.
Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the US, Mahinda Samarasinghe, one of the distinguished guests sent a recorded message as he could not attend. In his remarks he mentioned the value of these programs and thanked the Foundation for their continued effort to serve the communities worldwide. The Consul General for Los Angeles, Dr Lalith Chandradasa was also a distinguished guest and he continued to appreciate the Foundation for their valuable contribution to the global community.
Rodney Perera, the Chief Executive Officer of SLF outlined the vision of Dr. Walter Jayasinghe to initiate the Sri Lanka Foundation Medical platform to bring to the global Sri Lankan community timely topics of utmost importance. He also extended his gratitude to the Panel of Doctors for their dedication to prepare and bring awareness of the key facts and safety tips concerning the Omicron Variant. The Chief Operating Officer, Shirani Stanislaus officially introduced the speakers and handed over the webinar platform to Dr Deepthi Jayasekera, the Medical Director of SLF to lead the ensuing discussion.
This educational symposium was presented by a panel of Sri Lanka-born medical experts that have gained vast knowledge of the latest international scientific findings including mitigation measures of the new COVID-19 variant, Omicron. The panel of doctors, in their respective presentations, illustrated the latest research, reviews, developing news and provided analysis of epidemiology, treatments, vaccines based on extensive data from across the world.
The Medical Director of the Sri Lanka Foundation, Prof. Deepthi Jayasekara, MD, FACP, M-IDSA,
Infectious Disease Specialist from US, Clinical Professor, Western University,
Chief of Infectious Disease, Emanate Health & San Dimas Hospital, moderated the session to be very interactive among the panel of doctors during the Q & A Session.
The expert panel of speakers and topics were as follows:
Prof. Dushyantha Jayaweera, M.D, FACP, MRCOG from US Professor Infectious Disease Specialist, University of Miami School of Medicine and University of Miami Hospital presented “New Treatments and Options for all Covid Variants”.
Prof. Neelika Malavige MBBS (Col.), MRCP (UK), AFHEA, DPhil (Oxon), FRCP (Lond) Professor in the Department of Department of Microbiology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura , Sri Lanka, Researcher at the Allergy, Immunology and Cell Biology Unit of the Department of Immunology Molecular and Molecular Medicine of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, has been selected as a member of the WHO technical advisory committee
on Covid-19, presented “Omicron Variant and how Sri Lanka is preparing for it”.
Prof. Suranjith Seneviratne from UK DPhil (Oxon), MBBS, MD, DPath, MRCPath, MRCP, FRCP, FRCPath, FCCP Professor and Consultant in Clinical Immunology and Allergy Institute of Immunity and Transplantation and Health Services Laboratories, London, UK Nawaloka Hospital Research and Education Foundation, Sri Lanka, presented “Covid Vaccine Effectiveness on Omicron”.
Prof. Sanjaya Senanayake FRACP, MAppEpid, MBBS, BSc (Med) Professor Infectious Diseases Physician and Director of Hospital at Canberra Hospital, Lecturer at the Australian National University Medical School, as well as a Conjoint Lecturer at the School of Public Health and Community Medicine at the University of New South Wales, presented, “How Australia is tackling Omicron”.
A large number of questions came in on the chatline from attendees in several different countries, which were all addressed by the panel. There were also many messages of appreciation from the global community that followed the discussion.
The program concluded with the vote of thanks presented by the Chief Operating Officer, Shirani Stanislaus with words of appreciation to the SLF Board & Staff and also the medical professionals for their exemplary presentations.
Viewers were also provided an introduction to the wide range of programs of Sri Lanka Foundation International USA, which include several ongoing relief projects in Sri Lanka, and dancing and drumming classes conducted by the US accredited (WASC-Western Association of Schools and Colleges) SLF Academy of Performing Arts, in person and online, starting January 23, 2022.
Click the link to watch the Video:
https://youtu.be/eDCbHT8MBc4
Please see below feedback received from the global audience:
Dear Madam, the session was very helpful and informative.
Dr Chamindi Ratnayake
Do you have a podcast of it.
Henry Wije
Thank You for the Information
Kanchana Samarasinghe
Hi Keshini,
Very informative and thankful.
Geetha Sil
A Very Good Presentation!
Lucky Rajasinghe
Dear Keshini,
Thank you for the useful presentation, can we receive a certificate of participation.
Dr Waruni Dharmapriya
Hi Keshini,
Very useful information by all the doctors. Thank you to the Sri Lanka Foundation.
Dr Lakshmi Moonesinghe
Thank you Foundation for giving this opportunity.
Dr Sujeewa Ratnayaka
What a wonderful webinar.
Raaj
Thank you Foundation.
Dr Mahendra Silva
