NSSL in fight to secure jobs for registered dieticians in state hospitals

The Nutrition Society of Sri Lanka (NSSL) hascalled on the Government to employ the Ceylon Medical College Council (CMCC)-registered Nutrition Dietitians as Dietitians in State hospitals, to uplift the nutritional status of the people.

NSSL President Dr Anoma Chandrasekera said the Government is yet to recognise the over 500 graduates of the Faculty of Livestock, Fisheries and Nutrition of the University of Wayamba to fill dietitians' vacancies in state hospitals. Instead, she said the food and beverage provision is managed by a common circular sent out by the hospital authorities

The former head of the Department of Applied Nutrition of the university, said that, in the late 90s, recognising the need for dietitian nutritionists in the country, the UoW introduced the BSc in Food Science & Nutrition Degree programme, with specialisation in Applied Nutrition. This, she said, is the only Bachelors Degree in the country that has an adequate component of clinical component, meeting international standards. It includes around 400 hours of clinical training in a leading state or private hospital, under the supervision of a registered dietitian.

She said there exists several false notions related to the role of the dietetic nutritionist, and only a degree holder in human nutrition with a module on medical nutrition therapy and dietetics and supervised clinical training under a registered dietitian in a healthcare setting for one year, can become a dietitian nutritionist.