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COVID vaccine phobia in lanka might be a serious problem in the next Pandemic
By Rathindra Kuruwita
COVID vaccine phobia was still prevalent among the people and this might cause serious issues in a future pandemic unless it is addressed, Dr. Ruwan Wijayamuni of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) said during a seminar in Colombo this week.
The seminar was organised by the Institute of Health Policy (IHP) to publicize the findings from the Gates Ventures Johns Hopkins University, and IHP study on the Sri Lanka’s health system’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We have to study results of vaccination and look at case studies and present to people. There is vaccine hesitancy in the community” he said.
Dr. Nilmini Wijemunige, Research Associate of IHP, said that there was a high demand for the Pfizer vaccine at the outset of the vaccination process.IHP contacted a large number of people who had not been vaccinated by mid-2021, and the overwhelming majority of them wanted the Pfizer vaccine, she said.
However, there was reduced interest in getting the Pfizer booster a year later. This was probably due to the reduced anxiety about the virus and because preventive messaging was for a long period was to take two doses to create adequate immunity, she said.
President of The Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA), Dr. Vinya Ariyaratne said that there was a strong element of trust in the medical system initially and thus there was little vaccine hesitancy among Sri Lankans.
“There was also widespread fear among the people initially about COVID. But there was vaccine hesitancy by the time we started on the boosters. Six million doses of Pfizer was wasted because people didn’t come forth,” he said.
Christine Perera of People’s Movement for the Rights of Patients said there were virtually no programmes to ensure the wellbeing of the elders during the pandemic.
“Sometime after curfew was declared I got in touch with all relevant authorities supposed to be in charge of the elderly and disabled. As you know many elderly live alone, there are many authorities looking after the welfare of elderly and disabled and I inquired if there were any special programmes established to ensure the wellbeing of the elderly. Other than asking those to stay at home there was no assistance whatsoever. Ms Perera asked what is the mandate of those in authority and what role did they play during covid-19.”
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
