This Is Public Health Jaffna

Introduction

The University of Jaffna, through the Department of Community and Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Sri Lanka, has been recognized with a prestigious This Is Public Health (TIPH) Award for its innovative public health communication initiative. This recognition highlights the department’s project titled “Echoing the public health success stories of Sri Lanka through a podcasting series to enhance the attitudes and skills of public health personnel.”

The TIPH award for this initiative has been conferred on Dr. P. A. D. Coonghe of the Department of Community and Family Medicine, who serves as the TIPH Awardee. The project is further supported by Dr. Sivaganesh Suganja, who serves as the Student Ambassador, contributing to youth engagement and knowledge dissemination.

This forward-looking project is implemented under the RIEGELMAN – This Is Public Health (TIPH) Global Grant and represents a collaborative effort between the Department of Community and Family Medicine (DCFM), the Sri Lanka Public Health Education Institution Network (LANKAPHEIN), and the South East Asian Public Health Education Institution Network (SEAPHEIN). Through this collaboration, the initiative seeks to strengthen Sri Lanka’s national, regional, and global presence in public health education and communication.

The project is structured around three core pillars:

Institutional capacity building, stakeholder engagement, and knowledge exchange across Asia.

Central to the initiative is a podcast-based education series delivered in Tamil, Sinhala, and English, designed to make public health knowledge accessible, engaging, and relevant to diverse audiences across Sri Lanka.

Key activities include recruiting a trilingual graduate, conducting extensive stakeholder consultations, identifying leading Sri Lankan public health champions, and developing, producing, and disseminating a high-quality podcast series. This series serves as a vital platform for showcasing Sri Lanka’s public health achievements, innovations, and lessons learned, while supporting the continuous professional development of public health personnel nationwide.

By combining academic expertise, digital media, and global public health principles aligned with the World Health Organization (WHO), this initiative aims to amplify trusted public health voices and contribute meaningfully to strengthening public health systems in Sri Lanka.

Our Approach
Part 1 | Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infections in Sri Lanka | TIPH Jaffna Project
 
Episode Theme: Eradication & Control of Communicable Diseases
Focus: Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infections in Sri Lanka
Guest: Prof. Nilanthi Renuka de Silva, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya.
Host: Dr. P. A. D Coonghe, Senior Lecturer, DCFM, Faculty of Medicine, UOJ
💡 Some key insights shared by Prof. Nilanthi R. de Silva:

• Early surveys in the 1920s reported over 90% prevalence of soil-transmitted helminth infections in Sri Lanka.
• Through nearly a century of sustained public health efforts, the prevalence has been reduced to less than 1% today.
• Mass deworming programmes and preventive chemotherapy, supported by effective medicines such as mebendazole and albendazole, played a major role.
• Improved sanitation, safe waste disposal, and public awareness were critical in interrupting transmission.
• Education — especially women’s education — significantly influenced child health and infection prevention.

✨ As Sri Lanka celebrates 100 years of public health achievements in 2026, this conversation highlights how long-term commitment, research, and community collaboration can transform public health outcomes.

🎥 Full podcast video coming soon — stay tuned!

Our Committee

Prof. R. Surenthirakumaran

Dean and Professor in Community Medicine,
Faculty of Medicine,
University of Jaffna

Dr. P. A. Dinesh Coonghe

TIPH Awardee
Senior Lecturer, Board Certified Specialist in Community Medicine,
Department of Community and Family Medicine,
Faculty of Medicine,
University of Jaffna

Dr. Sivaganesh Suganja

Student Ambassador – TIPH
Lecturer (Probationary) in Community and Family medicine,
Department of Community and Family medicine,
Faculty of Medicine,
University of Jaffna

Mrs. Vithushany Sureshkumar

Dip. In MLT
Staff Technical Officer,
Faculty of Medicine,
University of Jaffna

Ms. Mathavy Umasuthsarma

Project Fellow, TIPH
Department of Community and Family Medicine,
Faculty of Medicine,
University of Jaffna

Our Partners

Sri Lanka Public Health Education Institution Network (LANKAPHEIN)
South East Asian Public Health Education Institution Network (SEAPHEIN)
University of Jaffna
World Health Organization (WHO)
This Is Public Health (TIPH) – RIEGELMAN Global Grant
Associated of Schools & Programs of Public Health (ASPPH)

SEAPHEIN

TIPH Global

Global Network

WHO

Health Gov

ASPPH

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