IMC Education Welfare Services for Medical Students in Belarus during COVID 19 Pandemic
Head states of the world are conformed to a global health crisis in par with the COVID-19 Pandemic. It is to be understood that COVID19 will leave no sector in any country unaffected.
Belarus is a destination that counts to more than 1500 SriLankan students currently studying medicine due to its excellent academic structure. COVID-19 in Belarus has become a throbbing issue for parents whose children are in Belarus and for students who wish to go to Belarus.
In order to give the public an insight about the counter measurements taken in Belarus, we interviewed the Dep. Chief Executive Officer of IMC Education,Mr. Amila B Kulatunga, (PhD Candidate (Belarus), MBA (Merit) UK, B.Com (Sp) Hons (Col), P.G. Dip.M (UK), ACIM, MSLIM) as IMC Education is the only Medical placement agency which has a “full time foreign Sri-Lankan office in Belarus”. As IMC Education is the “Only AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE in SRILANKA for number of MEDICAL UNIVERSITIES OVERSEAS” and more specifically the “Official and Authorized representative in SriLanka for Grodno State Medical University and Vitebsk State Medical University in Belarus”
Q. Is it true that Sri-Lankan students are stranded?
Students of “IMC Education” are not stranded and have not made public statements about repatriating. Why? Because Ouroffice in Belarus, took necessary actions to protect & advise students on how we would tackle the situation for them with the university and the Sri-Lankan embassy in Moscow.
Q. How has IMC Belarus office supported our students?
IMC Office in Belarus &SriLanka has advocated on counter measurements to safeguard the students. We are the only SriLankan office to runthreeoffices in Belarus to provide welfare services for the entire 6 years of study. The following counter measurements were taken by “IMC BELARUS OFFICE & SRI-LANKAN OFFICE” 1. Negotiate with University to Deliver Online Learning Facility.
IMC Belarus/ Sri-Lankan office along with the influence of parents, we were able to negotiate with the universities to conduct classes on “VirtualOnline Teaching Systems” from “Traditional Classroom System”. (In order to Maintain Social Distancing)
2. Health Monitoring System IMC Belarus representatives implemented a “Health Monitoring System”shared among IMC students to updateon theirdaily health condition. This chart monitor student’s health therefor identification of symptoms related to COVID-19 enables IMC Belarus staff to attend any precautionary measures for adverse health conditions. IMC Belarus representatives have taken strict measurements in observing student’s behavior relating to “Social distancing”, “Residing indoors”, and “Zero outdoor activity” along with the assistance of University officials &hostel staff. Failure to do so, actions would be taken.
3. Better Protection & Safety IMC Belarus representatives made it mandatory for all students to,
Wear “Surgical masks” and to keep a bottle of “Hand sanitizers”.
“Mandatory” to have “One Thermometer” for each block . To check on student’s temperature.
“Steam inhalation” on a daily basis.
IMC Belarus office helped in purchasing surgical masks, gloves, hand sanitizers, thermometers and steamers so students don’t have to walk outside which is not safe. University is being disinfected everyday despite classes being conducted online. This is to make sure in months to come the premises would be sanitized 100%.
4. Online Food Delivery System. As students are restricted from leaving the hostel and due to strict rules monitored by our Belarus staff, purchasing of goods cannot be done. We helped to locateand facilitate an “Online Delivering Supermarket”. The goods deliver up to the hostel door step while accepting contactless delivery payments.
Q. What is operation of IMC in Belarus?
IMC Belarus offices operates in three states in the Republic of Belarus with full time working staff head by Dr. Bhathiya Karunarathne & Dr. Pivovarov Viacheslav at the,
1) Minsk Region (Belarusian National Technical University ) Coordinating Managers Ms. Alona & Veronica
2) Grodno Region ( Grodno State Medical University) Coordinating ManagerMs. Anishchik Marina,
3) Vitebsk Region (Vitebsk State Medical University) Coordinating Manager Ms. Anna Alexandrovna.
Q. How has the Sri-Lankan Embassy in Moscow helped the situation?
The Sri-Lankan Embassy in Moscow has been a great deal of support for all students in Belarus. The embassy confirmed the flight to repatriate students to Sri-Lanka on the 28th May 2020 which was influenced by both IMC and IMC Parents. Since we are the official representative, the influence by our office has been a reason for this success.So along with the Sri Lankan Embassy in Moscow, IMC is helping our students for the evacuation in terms of confirmations and assistance in exit visa preparations.
IMC Office in Belarus hasbooked safety transport coaches from the university to the airport by maintaining COVID-19 travel guidelines.
Q. What would happen to students who stay back in Belarus?
Not everyone is coming to SL, some are staying back. IMC Belarus office will be determined to help students who decide to stay back as well as to those who return. The counter measurements that we took will continue for these students and there will be no difference in the service provided.
Q. How will students get back with their studies?
As mentioned above, thelectures will continue on the “Online Learning Platform” on theory based learning and practicals will be covered when resuming lectures physically in Belarus.
Contact 077 30 888 40 077 442 1597 or visit us at 154, Thimbirigasyaya Junction, Havelock Road, Colombo 05 for further queries on the above interview.