On 20 May, 2020, the World Health Organization Sri Lanka (WCO-SRL) and the National Human Resource (HR) Capacity Development Program of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services (MoH) conducted an online training program for nursing professionals, medical officers, mental health professionals, and consultants. Over 1,000 participants in training centers at 32 hospitals across the country joined the online training program.
The program is composed of a series of training sessions. The first two were held this past Wednesday. The first session was on infection prevention and control in healthcare setting during the COVID 19 pandemic. This session, conducted by Dr Kushlani Jayatilleke, Consultant Microbiologist from the Sri Jayewardenepura Teaching Hospital, featured an insightful presentation on the procedures employed to ensure the safety of healthcare staff. Dr Kulshani discussed how to administratively and logistically manage these procedures in healthcare settings. She also explained the rationale behind the safety procedures and emphasized the importance of evidence-based action, which can help counter any undue fear that could impact staff motivation.
b2b261e5-dff9-4cef-822a-8963a3c8d71f.png?sfvrsn=e3eb72b5_1)
The second session was on psychosocial support for health care workers engaged in COVID-19 care. This session, conducted by Ms Sadhani Rajapakse, a Clinical Psychologist and the National Professional Officer for Psychosocial Wellbeing at WCO-SRL, provided an introduction to Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services (MHPSS). Ms Sadhani discussed key techniques, such as Psychological First Aid, that can be used to support persons going through difficult time by helping them cope better. The session was interactive bringing in elements of quizzes and activities that aspired to keep the crowd engaged. The participants were encouraged to use psychosocial principles in their service to support both the patients they encounter and their colleagues and family. Ms Sadhani also stressed the importance of self-care and encouraged the participants to practice psychosocial techniques to maintain their personal wellbeing in addition to their patients.
For more resources from WHO, download the WHO Academy App, which provides healthcare workers with easy access to tools, guidelines, upcoming events, updates, and other resources. The app can be downloaded for Android here and for IOS here. The WCO-SRL COVID-19 page also has additional resources such as this comprehensive resource reference.
