WHO Country Officers Visit

WHO country office Sri Lanka experts on Jaffna Healthy city visited to evaluate and perform need analysis on Jaffna Healthy City initiative, where meeting has arranged with several stakeholders of Jaffna Healthy City initiative from 6^th of August to 8^th of August, 2024. The team was comprised of Prof. A. Pathmeswaran, Consultant from WHO Colombo, and Dr. T. Suveendran, National Professional Officer, WHO Colombo. The visit aimed to engage with local stakeholders and discuss progress and challenges related to the Jaffna Healthy City initiative.

Day 1 – 6^th of August

The WHO country officers were warmly received by the Commissioner of the Jaffna Municipal and the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Jaffna (UOJ).  An initial discussion took place, focusing on the current status of the Jaffna Healthy City program and the areas requiring further attention and collaboration

WHO country office Sri Lanka experts on Jaffna Healthy city visited to evaluate and perform the need analysis on Jaffna Healthy City initiative, where meeting has arranged with Jaffna RDHS and their team. The discussion covered key health issues, including the prevalence of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in Jaffna city and the importance of enhancing school health programs, waste management particularly hospital waste incineration and clinical waste disposal. Additionally, they addressed the control of communicable diseases such as dengue, tuberculosis (TB) and leprosy.

The team met the higher officers of National Water Supply and Drainage Board- Jaffna and discussed about supply of RO water plants across the Northern Province and the water supply challenges within the Jaffna Municipality region. The focus was on improving access to clean water and ensuring sustainable water management for public health.

Discussion with DIG of Jaffna police about key issues including traffic, crime, accidents, and gender-based violence. The conversation specifically focused on alcohol use and substance abuse among school students and young people.

Discussion took place regarding activities have been done  under the Healthy City project with the support of Save a life, including training programs for sanitation workers, Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) in schools, and zero-plastic activities. They also reviewed the current plastic recycling project, emphasizing its impact and future potential.

WHO team discussed with Jaffna social action centre (JSAC), key issues including gender equality, children’s rights, and the promotion of physical activities in schools. They also focused on the importance of sex and reproductive health programs in schools to ensure the well-being and education of young people was discussed with team members.

Meeting with Mothers Support group MOH Jaffna have conducted at the Jaffna MOH. Several matters discussed with mothers particularly Child health & Nutrition, Waste management, Mothers care, menstrual health hygiene and Sanitary facility in schools.

Day 2 – 7^th of August

WHO country office experts met the Divisional secretariat Jaffna and their team and discussed about Jaffna city development, Poverty condition, Welfare service for the publics and Waste management.

Meeting with Divisional secretariat Nallur and their staff was conducted. Several matters was discussed with them such as Welfare service for the publics (Medical welfare, Aswesuma,), Garbage management, Illicit drug usage in Jaffna area.

Expert panel visited and met the staff of Urban Development Authority (UDA) Jaffna and discussed about development of parks for the public usage and other future plans of them.

Discussion with J/Koddady Namasivayam School principal about student educational status , Student attendance, Healthy food , drug usage among the students and other health information.

Meeting with social service department (Kaithady, Jaffna) staff. Several matter was discussed with them such as persons of disability home care centre, Elders home care centre, Medical welfare services (CKD, Cancer, TB and other)

Discussion with Assistant commissioner of excise department Northern Province regarding alcohol and other illicit drug usage in Jaffna area and other matters.

Meeting with Central environmental authority (Jaffna)  and the matters discussed with them such as School programs for environmental day, Plan of Urban forest development in Jaffna city area.

Day 3 – 8^th of August

WHO country office team met the stakeholders of provincial education department and zonal education department (Jaffna) and the matters discussed such as School starting time, School clubs, School health programs and others.

Team visited to the J/Vaitheeswara College and met the principal and Teachers and discussed with them about Healthy food, Morning activity and class room activity, Gardening and plastics usage in school.

Discussion with Chief Regional manager of Sri Lankan Transport Bus Services (SLTB-Jaffna). The discussion mainly focused on transport service between cities and local area.

Discussion with Road and Development authority Chief engineer and other staff. Matters discussed with them such as High way road systems, road rules and regulations.