The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) yesterday (23) said the failures at the Epidemiology Unit have resulted in a sub-optimal and delayed surveillance process in controlling Covid-19, which led to the second wave of the pandemic.

In a letter to Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr. Asela Gunawardana, GMOA Secretary Dr. Senal Fernando has stressed that the failure of the Regional Director of Health Services (RDHS) of the Colombo District to share data is totally unacceptable, especially when Colombo has become the current epicentre of the pandemic.

Dr. Fernando also said that the RDHS of the Colombo District has failed to provide transport and the necessary logistics to Medical Officer of Health (MOH) offices which are doing an impressive service in the face of severe shortcomings, while carrying a grave personal risk.

“We have been continually emphasising the importance of surveillance in controlling Covid-19 since the first wave in March 2020. Surveillance depends on PCR testing capacity; timing of reporting/issuing PCR reports; quality, accuracy, and efficiency of data collection; and GPS mapping of Covid-19 cases and contacts,” he said, adding that the above process depends on various institutions acting in concert, of which the ultimate responsibility lies with the Epidemiology Unit.

The GMOA requested the DGHS to rectify the above issues of the Director, Epidemiology Unit and the Colombo RDHS office in order to ensure a high-quality surveillance mechanism which would greatly enhance our efforts in controlling Covid-19.