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The decision to make an assessment of the priority areas for research development and training was made following a decision taken by the Committee for Resources for Research (CRR) of the Human Reproduction Programme (HRP) of the WHO. It was recognized that research should have as their main purpose the identification of and finding solutions to priority health problems in the countries concerned.
A workshop was organized in 1989 for assessment of needs for research in reproductive health, based on the nation’s epidemiological data bank and relevant health indices. This was followed on a national scale by a group of scientists representing the medical faculties of Colombo, Peradeniya, Galle (Ruhuna) and Jaffna,
Family Health Bureau of the Ministry of Health, Family Planning Association and UNFPA.
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Financial assistance for this activity was provided through a grant from the CRR. HRP Secretariat provided the necessary consultant support. A national research agenda was drawn up based on the assessment.
Following this research needs assessment in 1989, the Sri Lanka coordinating committee for RHR was initiated in 1990. The first convener of the Committee was Prof. Dulitha Fernando.
For Background
The functions of the Committee are as follows
- To coordinate and stimulate research in the field of Reproductive Health
- To disseminate information relevant to the functions of the committee to organizations intending to do research in this field
- To liaise with WHO and other funding agencies for financial and technical assistance
With support from the special programme on HRP, WHO, Geneva, four task forces
based in the state medical schools were established. Financial support was provided as a Long-term Institutional Development (LID) Grant.
LID project aimed to plan and implement research that is required to improve the reproductive health status of
Sri Lankans. The proposal was drawn up jointly by the four task forces. In addition the Department of Health and other local organizations with activities in the area of reproductive health were involved.
The LID Grant activities developed jointly by the four task forces were coordinated by the Coordinating Committee on Reproductive Health Research based in Colombo Medical Faculty.
The Dean of each Medical Faculty and the Convener are the administrative authorities of each task force. The Coordinating Committee maintains links with the Task Forces through the respective Deans and Conveners who are members of the Coordinating Committee. The Coordinating Committee is in charge of financial management. The Faculty of Medicine, Colombo was the repository and the Vice Chancellor, University of Colombo the financial and administrative executive.
The Convener, NCC-RHR coordinates with the Conveners with regard to all research activities and financial allocations. The Senior Research Officer (SRO) appointed by the NCC-RHR in 1996 monitors all research activities of Task
Forces and assists dissemination of research results. NCC-RHR is responsible for evaluation of research activities and may co-opt relevant personnel for this purpose.
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Coordinating Committee on Reproductive Health Research (CCRHR) will continue to be based in the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo.
Composition :
CCRHR shall have a Chairperson and a Convenor, appointed by the Faculty Board of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo from amongst its permanent academic staff members.
Membership
Six to eight members nominated from amongst permanent academic staff members with experience / interest in Reproductive Health ( RH ) research.
This should include representation from Departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Community Medicine and Basic Sciences.
Each Task force can co-opt members currently engaged in RH research in the Faculty of Medicine, other Faculties of the same University and in other collaborating institutions.
Functions
Each Task Force shall
- Coordinate and stimulate research in the field of Reproductive Health (RH).
- Liaise with Department of Reproductive Health Research , World Health Organization Head Quarters, Geneva ( RHR / WHO-HQ, Geneva )
- Coordinate activities of the three Task Forces Colombo, Peradeniya and Ruhuna and other collaborating institutions.
- Provide guidance and support in research and research training in RH
- Monitor implementation of such programmes
- Receive funds from RHR/WHO-HQ/ Geneva and utilize these for
approved activities to promote research and research training in RH
and disburse to its Task Forces based on approved research and
research training programmes in RH.
- Collate and forward annual reports and plans for future activities including financial requirements of its Task Forces to RHR/WHO-HQ/Geneva.
- Meet not less than four times per calendar year.
- Plan and secure funding and implement any other activity related to promotion of research in RH.
Term of Office – Coordinating Committee on Reproductive Health Research
Chairperson and Convenor of CCRHR shall hold office for four years and be eligible for re-appointment for one more term.
Ex-officio members shall hold office as long as they hold office in the designated positions.
Co-opted members shall hold office for period of time determined by the CCRHR.
When the Chairperson’s term is over and a new Chairperson is to be appointed, Convenor shall hold office for another six months even if he / she has completed a four year term to allow smooth transition of administration. Term of office of subsequent Convenors appointed shall be 4 years from the date of appointment ( with the eligibility for reappointment for another term ) except when it is desirable to extend the term of office to allow smooth transition of administration.
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Three functional Task Forces of the Coordinating Committee 0n Reproductive Health Research which are geographically based in Colombo, Peradeniya and Ruhuna will continue to function as Task Forces of CCRHR. These will be based at Faculties of Medicine at the Universities of Colombo, Peradeniya, and Ruhuna. Other institutions in these geographical locations which collaborate with the Task Forces will be referred to as Collaborating Institutions.
Composition :
Chairperson and Convenor
Each Task Force shall have a Chairperson and a Convenor appointed by the Faculty Board of the respective Faculty of Medicine.
Membership
Six to eight members nominated from amongst permanent academic staff members with experience / interest in Reproductive Health ( RH ) research.
This should include representation from Departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Community Medicine and Basic Sciences.
Each Task force can co-opt members currently engaged in RH research in the Faculty of Medicine, other Faculties of the same University and in other collaborating institutions.
Functions
Each Task Force shall
- Promote research, research training and dissemination of research findings in RH.
- Develop research and research programmes based on National/ Regional/International priority areas.
- Submit timely annual reports and plans of action including financial requirements to CCRHR for collation and forwarding to RHR/WHO-HQ/ Geneva.
- Receive funds from RHR/WHO-HQ/Geneva through CCRHR and be accountable for funds received.
- Submit financial reports certified by the financial authority of the institutions and technical reports through the Dean of the respective Faculty of Medicine to CCRHR within 6 weeks of completion of the activity for which funds were received.
Term of Office of Task Force members
Chairperson and Convenor shall hold office for three years. They will be eligible for reselection to the same post for one more term.
Members ( excluding co-opted members ) shall be appointed for three year terms with the possibility of re-selection for any number of subsequent terms as appropriate.
Membership of co-opted members will be for a three year term. However they shall cease to be members if they discontinue Reproductive Health research within the three year term.
When the first Chairperson’s Term of Office is over and a new Chairperson is appointed the incumbent Convenor will continue to hold office for at least 6 months even if she/he has completed a three year term in office to allow smooth transition of administration. For subsequent Convenors term of office shall be 3 years from the date of appointment except when it is desirable to extend the period for smooth transition of administration .
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