The Family Planning Association of Sri Lanka partnered with the National hospital of Sri Lanka to hold a ‘Knowledge Contest’ on the 6^th of December in commemoration of World AIDS Day and International Human Rights Day 2016. The contest was held for the nursing officers of the hospital in order to reduce stigma and discrimination at healthcare settings and ensure the quality of care for patients with HIV/AIDS. As there are more than 2300 nursing officers employed at the hospital, the opportunity was taken to improve the awareness and knowledge of nurses on HIV/AIDS pathogenesis, treatment and universal precautions in addition to improving the quality of care for HIV/AIDS patients through the elimination of stigma and discrimination.

The event was inaugurated by the Director of the National STD & AIDS Control Programme, Dr. Sisira Liyanage, and the Director of the National Hospital of Sri Lanka, Dr. Anil Jasinghe with several other dignitaries. Over 100 members from the nursing staff participated in the event in addition to four teams of eight participants each, who participated in the knowledge contest. The panel of Judges consisted of Dr. Janaki Vidhanapathirana, Consultant Community Physician of the NSACP, Mrs. Madu Dissanayake – Director of Public Affairs, Policy and Advocacy of the Family Planning Association of Sri Lanka, Dr. Prageeth Premadasa – Assistant Venereologist of the NSACP, Dr. Geethika Patabedige – Consultant Clinical Microbiologist and Mrs. Deepani Karunaratne – Chief Nursing Officer.