From left to right - Prof. Chrishantha Weerasinghe- Council member, SLMA, Dr. Sajith Edirisinghe- Co-convener of the Doc 247 hotline, Dr. Asela Gunawardena-Director General Health Services, General Shavendra Silva -Head of the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO), Acting Chief of Defense Staff and Commander of the Army; Dr. Padma Gunaratne - President, SLMA, Dr.Manilka Sumanatilleke -Vice President, SLMA, Dr. Ruvaiz Haniffa - Chairperson, Doc 247 Working Group of the SLMA and Prof. Indika Karunathilake -Immediate Past President, SLMA.
The Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) recently made an initial donation of pulse oximeters to COVID-19 patients in the Colombo District who are being triaged and home managed under the SLMA’s Doc 24/7 call service.
These potentially life-saving devices which were purchased by COVID Sahana, the SLMA COVID relief fund, were handed over to the Head of the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO), Acting Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army, General Shavendra Silva in the presence of Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena and other SLMA members.
SLMA Doc 24/7 Working Group Chairperson Dr Ruvaiz Haniffa said that many have been afflicted with COVID-19 and most of them are asymptomatic and are thus quarantining themselves at home.
“Devices such as pulse oximeters play a key role in self-diagnosis and has the potential to save countless lives. As an apex medical body in the country, we consider it our duty to lend all possible aid to the suffering and to ensure that it reaches those who are truly in need. We plan to make several more donations to the people of this country when needed, and warmly invite anyone who would like to join us to do so by logging onto our website and donating to our COVID Sahana fund,” he said.
The SLMA is the oldest professional medical association in Asia and Australasia, with a proud history that dates to 1887. Due to the progressive increase in the number of medical practitioners in the country, the profession felt a strong need for an association that would bring all doctors to a common platform which would safeguard, maintain, and promote the interests and honor of the medical profession, thus leading to the formation of the association. It also aims to provide a forum for its members to further their professional and academic development.
Add new comment