Mental Health

About Us

The Department of Public Health Training at the National Institute of Health Sciences plays a pivotal role in developing the country’s public health workforce with the knowledge, skills, and practices necessary to address contemporary public health challenges through comprehensive training programmes for a wide range of health professionals. This includes basic trainings, regular continuous professional development programmes for all categories of health professionals and postgraduate trainings for officers from various health disciplines.

In addition to broad range of training activities, the department actively involved a range of academic activities as follows.

Revising and developing training materials

  • curriculum development and evaluation of existing curriculums
  • Developing resource materials (study guides, lesson plans, checklists etc.)

Ensuring the quality of trainings

  • Preparation of Standard operating procedures
  • Preparation of examination procedure
  • Preparation of guidelines and procedure checklists

Research and Evidence-Based Practice

  • Research for training need assessment
  • Promote operational research to improve planning and implementation of training programes.
  • Ensure the workforce can translate research into practical interventions.

Partnerships and Networking

  • Collaborate with universities, research institutions, NGOs, and international health bodies in conducting research related to teaching and training
  • Facilitate knowledge exchange and cross-sector partnerships.

In revising and developing training materials such as curricula and other health learning materials, SOPs, guidelines and checklists related to public health training to ensure the quality of the trainings.

The unit also promotes operational research aimed at improving the planning, implementation, and evaluation of training activities and public health interventions in strengthening evidence-based public health practice through research and innovation.

Furthermore, the department collaborates with universities, research institutions, national and international organizations, and other stakeholders to strengthen partnerships, facilitate knowledge exchange, and support the advancement of public health education and training.

Scope

The scope of the department spreads over a range of disciplines including Maternal and Child health, family planning and women’s health, heath promotion, communicable diseases, non- communicable diseases, elderly care and rehabilitation, environment health, occupational health, food safety, public health legislations, disaster preparedness and response.

Capacity building and workforce development.

Details of Academic Staff

Dr. Jeewa Sendanayake

MBBS

Dr. Aruni Fernando

MBBS, MSc in Community Medicine

Mr. Chandrasiri Weerakkody

PHI Tutor

Dr Pushpika Chandrasekara

Head – Department of Public Health Training MBBS, MSc, MD (Community Medicine),
Dip. M & E, Pg. Cert. Med. Edu.

Email – pushpikac@gmail.com

Dr Hansika Puhambugoda

MBBS, MSc in Community Medicine

Dr. Buddhika Weththasinge

MBBS, PGD in Family Medicine

Training Program Details

  1. Midwifery Training
  1. Supervising Public Health Midwifery Training

  1. Inservice Training for Medical Officers (Public Health/ Quality/ Planning attach to hospitals, RDHS & PDHS offices)
  2. Inservice training for Medical Officers Mental Health
  3. Inservice training for MO/ ICs on Medico legal procedures
  4. Inservice training for Medical officers on Public Health legislations

  1. Community orientation for post graduate trainees in Geriatric Medicine
  2. Field orientation component for post graduate trainees in MSc in Community Medicine
  3. Field orientation component for post graduate trainees in MSc in Military Medicine