Ms. Nawodini Shrikanthi (38) is a Nursing Sister at the Castle Street Women’s Hospital, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and in-charge of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the hospital. The unit is one of the largest in the country and a lifeline for new-borns with complications requiring specialised intensive care from all over the country. Ms. Shrikanthi’s experience at the hospital and the unit spans 12 years and recently had the opportunity to improve her skills and knowledge through a professional development training programme specifically designed for NICU staff.
“The training renewed our knowledge on new-born care, specifically on techniques essential for intensive care. The training covered both theory and practical aspects.”
“The programme re-instilled a sense of satisfaction and improved our team-spirit. It changed our perspective on the job; though we work together with other medical and healthcare workers and continue to provide effective service, our input was almost mechanical. After the training there is a big difference in our approach to our jobs; it inspired us to provide an improved service.”
The training comes as a part of the effort in upholding and improving the country’s healthcare system - one of the best in the region with a new-born mortality rate as low as 6 per thousand live births. However, as the economic slump in the country continues to impact families, increasing their vulnerabilities, specifically in terms of access to nutritious food, the healthcare system faces an added burden. The professional development of healthcare staff aims to sustain the dedicated specialized care provided for prematurity, infections and other serious conditions in new-borns, and to effectively manage a sudden spike in cases.
Dr. Saman Kumara (54), Consultant Neonatologist, Castle Street Hospital for Women, and a trainer for the programme, explains the importance of the programme:
“Babies admitted to the NICU are faced with unique medical requirements that need expert care from doctors and nurses. And the success stories of the new-borns at the facility depend on the knowledge, skills and attitudes of the medical and nursing staff.”
“The country’s delivery rate is approximately 300,000 babies per year. Out of which 10 per cent are premature, and 10 per cent of which, approximately 3,000 babies per year, require special care. Apart from that there are new-borns with infections needing special care. The unit here at Castle Street is a specialized tertiary centre where referrals from all over the country are received, and therefore manages a huge caseload,” he emphasizes.
“The training is the first of its kind in the country. So far, we have conducted two trainings, each with 40 participants. The training covers all aspects of new-born care including highly technical theoretical and practical knowledge.”
The training aims to reach a total of 400 healthcare professionals from 10 hospitals around the country that offer NICU facilities. The training is implemented by UNICEF with funding from the Government of Norway.
UNICEF strives to uphold the rights of every child, protecting them from harm and all forms of discrimination, so that they can grow up healthy and educated to reach their full potential. This work is in line with UNICEF’s globally recognized mandate and its support of national priorities.
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