In view of reducing the misuse and overuse of antibiotics by the general public, the Department of Microbiology, has successfully conducted an awareness programme for the grade 10 students and teachers of Hartley College, Point Pedro on the responsible use of antibiotics on 05.03.2026 morning from 8.30 – 11.45 am. Verbal approval from the school principal was obtained and approval was sought from the Provincial Director, Department of Education before the session.
Student awareness programme
The programme was conducted from 8.30 am onwards for about 1 ½ hours per group. Hundred and thirty-one students participated. A pretest was done at the beginning, followed by an interactive discussion session in small groups of around 15 students in each, role play by the students of Jaffna Hindu College (who were trained by the department staff previously) and a posttest.
Performance of students in the pretest was compared with their performance in posttest (minimum possible score was 0 and maximum 10). The mean, median and mode scores of the students in the pretest were 6.85, 7, and 7 and those in the posttest were 9.31, 9, and 10 respectively.
Certificates were awarded to all the students who got the maximum score of 10 in the posttest (65 students) and to the 15 students who performed in the role-play.
Awareness session for the teachers
A discussion session by Dr Valarmathy with the teachers was held from 10.30 am for about one hour on sensible use of antibiotics and the consequences of unnecessary and inappropriate use of it. Between 45-50 teachers actively participated in the session and several questions were raised and discussed.
Funding was sought from the University for the Outreach Programme (accounts and bills attached as annexure).
The department is committed to such awareness programmes to improve sensible use of antibiotics by the public.
Acknowledgements:
- A big thank you is due to all the grade 10 students and teachers of Hartley College who actively participated with great enthusiasm in the discussions.
- My sincere thanks to the Principal, Hartley College, Mr V Uthayamohon for allowing us to conduct this awareness programme.
- A big thanks to Mr Gopithas, teacher, Hartley College for all his support with the logistics.
- An immense thanks to the students from Jaffna Hindu College who performed a wonderful role-play on the responsible use of antibiotics, to the Principal, Jaffna Hindu College for allowing those students to perform the role-play and to Mr T Nitharshan, teacher, Jaffna Hindu College for his whole hearted support with the role-play.
- Thanks are also due to our Dean, Prof R Surenthirakumaran who has been wholeheartedly supporting our outreach programmes.
- My sincere gratitude to the supporting staff Mr. S Sacikaran and Mr T Sanchayan and Temporary Demonstrators of the Department of Microbiology, Mr P Kajan, Ms S Kamshalini and Ms V Tharsana, for their whole hearted support for this programme throughout and for being the facilitators for the student sessions.
- An immense thanks to Mr M Ragikaran, Technical Officer, Department of Microbiology, who is the Coordinator for this awareness programme, for all his hard work and for making this outreach programme a success.
