Browsing by Author "Perera, C.S."

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5

Advocating university undergraduate students on implementing FCTC Article 5.3
(EUEP European Publishing, 2021) Kandeepan, S.; Perera, K.M.N.; Wijesuriya, H.; Perera, C.S.; Rajasuriya, M.
INTRODUCTION: Tobacco industry uses aggressive strategies to use to make people want to buy their products, especially youths. Therefore It is needed to enhance the knowledge about industry tactics among the youngsters. OBJECTIVES: Establishment of network with university undergraduates to combat tobacco industry interferences in public health in Sri Lanka. METHODS: Centre for Combating Tobacco (CCT) organized a series of advocacy sessions on Tobacco Industry Impact on Public Health and Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) Article 5.3 targeting the university undergraduates in Sri Lanka. The first session was held on June 23rd, 2019. It was organized by a group of undergraduates currently working as volunteers with CCT to empower their peers in state university science stream faculties of the Western Province. In this session Industry’s impact on substance use and public health and direct and indirect promotion strategies, Tobacco industry interference in Sri Lanka, FCTC Article 5.3 and current activities by CCT to monitor tobacco industry interference on public health and implementation of FCTC Article 5.3 in Sri Lanka were discussed. Networking and establishment of action committees to support CCT activities with university undergraduate students were discussed. Results Opportunities for best practice strategies for tobacco interference control were identified. Policy adherence and enforcement was improved to raising the awareness with students. CONCLUSION(S): A majority of students supported the advocacy programme. A Network with university students was formed to combat the tobacco industry interference.
An Eosinophilic granuloma containing an adult female Wuchereria bancrofti in a patient with tropical pulmonary eosinophilia
(Oxford University Press, 1992) Perera, C.S.; Perera, L.M.; de Silva, C.; Abeyewickreme, W.; Dissanaike, A.S.; Ismail, M.M.
No Abstract Available
Implementation of pictorial health warnings on cigarette packs in Sri Lanka and the tobacco industry interferences
(Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2019) Wijesuriya, H.; Perera, K.M.N.; Perera, C.S.; Dineshkumar, P.; Lakmal, S.C.; Fenando, A.I.B.; Kandeepan, S.; Rajasuriya, M.
INTRODUCTION & OBJECTIVES: Ceylon Tobacco Company (CTC), legally challenged the government's initiative on 80% of the pictorial health warnings (PHW) on cigarette packs. After several rounds of Appeal and Supreme Court hearings, the judgement was given to implement PHWs, but reducing its size to 60%. However, as the then Minister of Health was later elected the President the 80% PHWs got implemented through a parliamentary decision. Our study aims to describe the tobacco industry interference during this process. METHODS: Investigative research techniques were used. Media reports, court reports, web content and research articles collected through snow-ball sampling were reviewed using content analysis. RESULTS: Strategies recognised were: alleged bribery by CTC; alleged interference in the legal and policy process through high-ranking politicians including the Head of State; influencing stakeholders and public via industry favourable academic publications and media reports; and influencing business community via industry favourable discussion forums. Main arguments used were: Minister of Health not possessing the legal power to enforce such a law; PHWs violating the company's intellectual property rights related to trade names and branding; unproven effectiveness of PHWs; and inadequate time availability for implementation. The only front group visible was the media, which repeatedly published arguments against PHWs favouring tobacco industry. The industry ultimately managed to delay the PHW implementation by 23 months and to reduce its extent to 60%. They managed to delay the original 80%-PHW implementation by 29 months. CONCLUSION: The tobacco industry interference misled the policy makers and the public, delaying implementation of PHWs for more than two years.
Prolonged clearence of microfilaraemia in patients with bancroftian filariasis after multiple high doses of ivermectin of diethylacarbamizine
(Oxford University Press, 1996) Ismail, M.M.; Weil, G.J.; Jayasinghe, K.S.A.; Premaratne, U.N.; Abeyewickreme, W.; Rajaratnam, H.N.; Sheriff, M.M.R.; Perera, C.S.; Dissanaike, A.S.
In a double-blind trial on 37 asymptomatic microfilaraemic subjects (minimum 400 microfilariae [mf] per mL) with Wuchereria bancrofti infection, the safety, tolerability and macrofilaricidal efficacy of 12 fortnightly doses of ivermectin, 400 microg/kg (ivermectin group), was compared with 12 fortnightly doses of diethylcarbamazine (DEC), 10 mg/kg (DEC group), over a period of 129 weeks after treatment. A control group (LDIC group) was treated with low dose ivermectin to clear microfilaraemia, for ethical reasons. Both ivermectin and DEC in high multiple doses were well tolerated and clinically safe. Macrofilaricidal efficacy was assessed by prolonged clearance of microfilaraemia, appearance of local lesions, and reduction of circulating W. bancrofti adult antigen detected by an antigen capture enzyme-linked immunoassay based on the monoclonal antibody AD12. Mf counts fell more rapidly after ivermectin than after DEC, but low residual mf levels were equivalent in these groups after week 4. Conversely, filarial antigen levels fell more rapidly after DEC than after ivermectin, but low residual antigen levels in these groups were statistically equivalent at all times beyond 12 weeks. Mild, self-limited systemic reactions to therapy were observed in all 3 treatment groups. Local reactions, such as development of scrotal nodules, were observed in several subjects in the DEC and ivermectin groups. These results suggested that high dose ivermectin and DEC both had significant macrofilaricidal activity against W. bancrofti, but neither of these intensive therapeutic regimens consistently produced complete cures. Thus, new drugs or dosing schedules are needed to achieve the goal of killing all filarial parasites in the majority of patients.
Tobacco industry interference against the single stick cigarette sales ban
(EUEP European Publishing, 2021) Kandeepan, S.; Perera, K.M.N.; Wijesuriya, H.; Perera, C.S.; Rajasuriya, M.
INTRODUCTION: Sri Lanka implemented 80% Pictorial Health Warnings and is planning to implement standardised packaging. However, a considerable proportion of smokers buy cigarettes in the loose form. Sale of cigarettes as single sticks promotes smoking among minors, beginners and poor due to high affordability and accessibility. In September 2018, Health Minister proposed to ban sale of single sticks as recommended by the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The proposal failed to gain Cabinet approval preventing its implementation. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to explore the tobacco industry’s tactics in sabotaging the proposed ban on single stick sale of cigarettes in Sri Lanka. METHODS: Investigative research techniques were used. Content analysis was carried out on identified web posts and documents to determine the tobacco industry’s strategic involvement, their front groups and arguments used. RESULTS: First argument, the ban would reduce government tax revenue due to reduction of cigarette sales, was made by three parties: cigarette industry, media and Minister of Finance (MoF). The strongest advocate against the ban was the Tobacco Retailer’s Association (TRA), backed by the Ceylon Tobacco Company (CTC). TRA’s argued that retail business would be impacted, again because of reduced sales. TRA directly advocated MoF via a meeting. Third argument, used by the MoF was that the ban would increase beedi use. The cabinet rejected the ban as MoF and three other ministers opposed. CONCLUSION(S): CTC successfully interfered in the ban on single sticks cigarette sale through the TRA, media and the MoF, arguing that resulting reduced cigarette sales would generate a negative impact.