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Activists push for ban on using human contraceptive jabs on animals
(Mongabay) Authorities are considering banning the use of a human contraceptive injection for animals backed by calls from animal rights activists and vets, after a state-sanctioned chemical sterilization program drew serious criticism.
The medroxyprogesterone acetate contraceptive injection, popularly sold under the brand name Depo-Provera, is intended for humans and had come under the spotlight when the government attempted to introduce it to stray dogs (Canis lupus familiaris)as a pilot project.The drug has often been surrounded in controversy due to its safety risks. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration has issued a “black box warning” on the contraceptive, citing that it may lead to bone density loss among humans.Vets and animal rights activists say the repercussions of using the injection on animals are even worse.
The Veterinary Drug Control Authority (VDCA), which falls under the purview of the Department of Animal Production and Health, has not banned the use of this contraceptive for animals.The Public Health Veterinary Services office estimates Sri Lanka’s stray dog population to be around 3-4 million.Hemali Kothalawala, the director general of the Department of Animal Production and Health, said in the past, the VDCA has granted approval to import that jab only under “special circumstances” if it is to be used on animals.
However, the National Medicines Regulatory Authority has granted approval to import the injection to be used on humans. Animal rights activists say the injections imported for humans are illegally used by quack vets on dogs.
“We are considering proposals to prohibit the use of this injection on animals. This has many harmful side effects. We will make a final decision in the near future,” Kothalawala told Mongabay.She added that until a final decision is made, anyone importing the injection for the purpose of using it on animals will have to obtain the approval of the VDCA.
Calls to ban the injection came after the Public Health Veterinary Services officeannounced a pilot project on Jan. 5 to carry out chemical sterilization on 50,000 free-roaming dogs.The program was aimed at achieving zero dog-mediated human rabies deaths by 2025, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
“The Depo-Provera vaccines were to be given to us as a grant by the World Health Organization,” L.D. Kithsiri, the director of Public Health Veterinary Services, told Mongabay.
Over the years, the Public Health Veterinary Services Office has adopted two approaches to combat rabies. The options are to administer rabies vaccines or perform clinical sterilization on female dogs — a process during which the animal’s reproductive organ is removed to permanently stop it from reproducing.
“We wanted to introduce chemical sterilization because we have not received enough funds from the government to carry out clinical sterilization,” Kithsiri said.
He said the Public Health Veterinary Services Office has received only around 69 million rupees ($190,000) for clinical sterilization in 2023, and that allocation is enough to perform the surgery on only 25,000 dogs.
“In 2022, the number of dog-mediated human rabies deaths was 28. Each year, around 20-30 deaths occur due to rabies. We need to perform the surgery on at least 100,000 dogs every year to achieve our target of no rabies deaths,” Kithsiri added.
The proposed chemical sterilization program sparked serious concerns from animal rights activists and vets who pointed out that the injection can have life-threatening implications when given to dogs.
The injection requires repeated dosing and has to be given to dogs after assessing the exact phase of their reproductive cycle. The Sri Lanka Veterinary Association (SLVA)had written to the health ministry highlighting that it is not practical to monitor the reproductive cycle of stray dogs, which had been chosen for the pilot project.
“It [the injection] requires repeated dosing for long-term suppression of reproduction. Therefore, administering Depo-Provera to stray animal population control is limited,” SLVA said in its letter seen by Mongabay.
The injection should not be given to female dogs when their estradiol hormone levels have been elevated or when they are not in anestrus — the non-breeding period of a dog’s six-month heat cycle, according to research published in The Blue Cross, the annual bulletin of the Nepal Veterinary Students Association.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
