The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has strongly opposed to the handing over of the Pfizer vaccination project to the Army. On Sunday, August 29, the media reported that the Army had been given full authority to administer the Pfizer vaccination project.
The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) points out that Arnold’s Epidemiology Unit should be at the center of the vaccination project.
“We strongly condemn the decision to give the Pfizer vaccine only to the military forces. If the army had been vaccinated, weapons would have been given to the health sector during the war, ”Dr. Naveen de Zoysa, Assistant Secretary of the Government Medical Officers’ Association, said.
The Government Medical Officers’ Association has already informed the Minister in charge of the health. In a letter to Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, signed by Dr. Chenal Fernando, Secretary of the Government Medical Officers’ Association, pointed out that the vaccine program in Sri Lanka would help bring health indicators to the level of developed countries, which would be praised by the World Health Organization as well as internationally.
The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) says that Covid disease is a public health emergency and that the health sector has the technical knowledge about how to control it and that the technical decisions on the vaccination program and the epidemic control should be taken by the Epidemiology Division and the Ministry of Health.
However, the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) had pointed out in a discussion with the Minister of Health last Friday that the problem has arisen due to the decision making based on only two specialist doctors in the Epidemiology Division.
The Government Medical Officers’ Association has requested the Ministry of Health to provide leadership for the epidemic control and vaccination program. Decisions on Epidemic Control, including Vaccination Programs The six main committees of the Epidemiology Unit have set up six expert committees, the Deputy Director General of Public Health, Dr. S. M. They have also stressed to the Minister of Health that this should be done under the direct supervision of Arnold.
The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has reiterated that the internationally acclaimed vaccination program in Sri Lanka and the health sector has so far been commended for the leadership provided by the health sector.