29.06.2006

Opening of medical studies at Eastern University of Sri Lanka

Prof. T.J. Gutteberg and Prof. T. Varagunam in Batticaloa, May 2004 (photo: SIH)

A new cheerful message has arrived from Batticaloa. Many years of vision, hope and hard work have reached their climax. The new Faculty of Health-Care Sciences received their admission list with 52 medical students. After the Bachelor Programme in Nursing, also the Medical Education has come on place. Congratulation EUSL!

Klaus Melf

This event can be compared with the uptake of the first medical students in Tromsø in the year 1972. It was the enormous lack of health professionals in the region which led to the establishment of a medical school, and indeed the University or Tromsø. As we know, this resulted in both, a top level health care system in North Norway and an exemplary development of Tromsø and the region.

In a similar way, but aggravated through many years of war, the tsunami of 2004, and other natural disasters, there is a manifest need for health professionals and the development of an accessible and sustainable health care system in Eastern Sri Lanka. This was the reason that EUSL got interested in “The Tromsø Model”, and asked UiTø for collaboration in the health and peace field.

A first delegation from Tromsø visited Batticaloa in 2003. Since that time a strong partnership has been developed between both institutions, including also Tromsø University College (HiTø) and the University Hospital (UNN). The partnership embraces mutual exchange and competence building, support in the construction of teaching facilities, as well as curricula development and teaching assistance in problem-based learning.

While the Bachelor’s Programme in Nursing was already established last autumn (see also: Encouraging news from Sri Lanka!), Batticaloa is welcoming these days their first 52 medical students. Courses for other health professions are under planning. The new Faculty of Health-Care Sciences will be inaugurated on August, 11^th.

Combined with the inauguration an international conference on Peace Capacity Building for Health Professionals will take place in Batticaloa, from August 15^th -18^th. Again, Tromsø with its unique master level module on Peace, Health and Medical Work served as inspiration. It is the strong wish of our partners to include peace-skills into the educational programme in medicine and health sciences in Batticaloa. Collaborating partners for this conference are EUSL, WHO Sri Lanka and SIH Tromsø.

We wholeheartedly wish Batticaloa, Eastern Sri Lanka, and the entire country peace, health and a prosper development.

Links:

Website of Eastern University of Sri Lanka

Ceremonial welcome of First Batch of Medical Students