Jayanthi Jayawardena
Candidate for Members at Large, from Societies
Jayanthi Jayawardena
Sri Lanka
Statement of motivation
As a home-grown Cardiologist of the 1990s in Sri Lanka, I have experienced the upward epidemiological trajectory of non-communicable disease and witnessed the increasing demand for high tech interventions as the main burden of challenges for our resource limited settings.
With clinical and interventional cardiology experience of over 25 years, I have first-hand experience with the local state sponsored health system that offers universal health care. Over the decades I realized that many CVD events or deaths could have been avoided if primordial prevention strategies were implemented effectively and risk factor modification and treatment were put in place.
Globally CVD takes 20 million lives annually and account for 1/3 of deaths. Heart attacks and strokes account for 80% CVD deaths. The causative factors still remain largely unattended.
This made me pursue an evidence based approach to the root causes of CVD in the South Asian region and in particular my island nation of Sri Lanka. The Asia Pacific Society of Cardiology (APSC) and Asia Pacific Heart Network (APHN) gave me incredible support to network with the correct personnel and institutions and helped me join a multi sector group within my country to advocate towards primary prevention and public awareness. I was zonal vice president of APSC 2015-2017 and vice president of APHN 2019 onwards.
As per government regulations I was compelled to undergo compulsory retirement from state sector at a young age compared to western countries. Nevertheless, I remain active in academic service. This has also paved me the way to engage in advocacy at policy and community levels.
As the Chairperson of the Non Communicable Disease Expert committee of Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA), the apex body of medical professionals that celebrates 135 years, I extended support and gave leadership for the Nirogi Lanka Project (www.nirogilanka.org) .
In this position I was able to take several steps aiming at primordial prevention of CVD. Liaised with state and private milk food industry for the public to receive healthy dairy products devoid of adulterated fat, mainly palm oil.
Steps were taken along with state stakeholders to regulate edible oils, mainly coconut oil combined with health education programs to offer heart healthy oils and fats.
Local food surveys were done with analysis of Trans fats and recommended banning of trans fats.
We have been successful in banning duty free cigarettes and in withholding registration for e-cigarettes. Currently we coordinate with policy makers to ban single cigarette sales.
Currently through SLMA we have initiated a project to prevent CVD at primary care settings. Apps developed to screen healthy people for CVD risks.
Contributed for national guidelines on NCD, Lipids, Hypertension, Primary care.
Therefore, I am happy to say that I have the experience and time to serve this esteemed body to work in a wider global scenario.
I believe that your vote for me to join the executive committee of the World Heart Federation as A Member at Large would further support my quest for a CVD free future generation in the world.