The annual medical screening programme for the students of grade 6 was conducted for the 16th consecutive year, on the 8th of May 2018, from 7.30 am to 10.30 am at the grade 6 building premises. This programme was organized by the Royal College Doctors Association (RCDA) in collaboration with Loyalty Pledge(LP). Principal, deputy principals, vice principals, senior games master of Royal College and assistant secretary of the RCU graced the occasion. Dr Sandacan Waduge and Dr Nayanajith Komasaru were the chief organizers of the event and Miss Sharlene de Chickera was the coordinator of Loyalty Pledge. 15 RCDA members were assigned as coordinators for each class. The programme was conducted with the participation of 60 doctors including Dr Ajith Tennakoon (President-RCDA), senior office bearers of the Loyalty Pledge including Mr Abhaya Amaradasa (Chairman-LP) and Edex and 45 prefects/stewards.
Of the 698 students of grade 6, 654 students participated in the screening program that featured symptoms analysis, BMI (body mass index) assessment, hearing and vision checks and general medical examinations. 305 students were identified as having medical problems and of these students 42 had multiple problems. The following is a summary of the medical problems identified.
| Problem | Number | |
| 1 | Impaired Vision | 87 |
| 2 | Dental | 78 |
| 3 | Over weight | 76 |
| 4 | Under weight | 60 |
| 5 | Psychological | 13 |
| 6 | Dermatological | 11 |
| 7 | Respiratory | 07 |
| 8 | ENT | 02 |
| 9 | Developmental | 02 |
| 10 | Speech | 01 |
| 11 | Cardiological | 01 |
| 12 | Urological | 01 |
| 13 | Paediatric Surgical Issues | 01 |
| 14 | Other | 15 |
All eye referrals were taken over by Dr Hiranya Abeysekera (Consultant Paediatric Eye Surgeon) and all nutritional referrals were taken over by Dr SBT Weerasekara and Dr Ahmad Rushdie (medical nutritionists). Dr Lakmal Kulasekara, Dr Sandaruwan Rajapaksha and Dr Nilanga Peiris arranged follow up for all dental cases. The remaining children with medical issues were referred to relevant specialists of the Lady Ridgeway Hospital, Borella. The screening programme will be followed up by onsite nutritional and ophthalmological interventional programmes and long-term monitoring.
The organizers would like to convey their sincere gratitude to all RCDA members for their professional assistance, to Loyalty Pledge for funding and guiding the programme, to the Master in charge of prefects and all prefects and stewards for timely participation, to the grade head and all teaching staff of grade 6 for their cooperation and to all the students for their participation.
Compiled by: Dr.Sandacan Waduge,Dr.Nayanajith Komasaru