UNFPA with support from the DFAT funded emergency project conducted trainings for the Colombo Municipal Council health staff on CMR, MISP and syndromic management of STIs based on the needs identified. A key focus area is mental health and psychosocial support training for field health staff. 

Public health department of the CMC was formulated in 1902. The public health department is funded by the CMC and it is not under the national health programme. The public health department provides below services to clients in the CMC under 45 ward areas across Colombo.  Annually 6000 pregnant women, 6000 lactating and 35000 infants are registered and access health services.

Through the SDG funded project on “urban agriculture and women’s empowerment” we aim to train 150 health workers in the CMC as refresher trainings on SRH, MCH, GBV and family planning service provision and capacitate them on nonjudgmental service provision with improved communication skills so they are able to target the most vulnerable clientele including youth. There will be two curated trainings for health managers (I day training) and for field health staff (2-day training). The staff will be selected by the CMC ensuring that every ward is represented.

Another key area to focus on with the CMC health staff is mental health and psychosocial support by adding a component on this in the training for field health staff. Health staff of the CMC shared the stress levels they cope up with, family and financial issues field health staff face due to the crisis, overburdened work load in the field due to lack of staff etc. This will be embedded to the SRH refresher training making it a two-day intervention so they are able to address their personal concerns to a considerable extent, have referrals and peer support.