User:DVD Silva

Dr. D.V.H. Silva MBBS (Cey), FRCOG (UK), FSLCOG (SL), PhD [1928–1989]

Dr. Diyathotuwe Vidanage Hector Silva MBBS (Cey), FRCOG (UK), FSLCOG (SL), PhD was a Sri Lankan Obstetrician & Gynaecologist.

(Reference for Membership Register of Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists UK : Page 768 https://www.rcog.org.uk/media/ey5cky4h/register-for-the-public-11.pdf)

Dr. DVH Silva was known in medical circles as “DVH”.

FAMILY, EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION.

DVH was born in 1928. Mr. Diyathotuwe Vidanage David Silva, proprietor of DVD Silva & Co, Talpe Habaraduwa, and Ms. S. Thenabadu (daughter of Andris de Silva Thenabadu of Dondra) were DVH’s parents. Despite the fact that DVH's father passed away when he was a child, his mother and her Thenabadu brothers encouraged DVH to pursue a career in medicine. Piyadasa Thenabadu, MA (London), author, lecturer at Teachers College Maharagama (1950s), Director of the Board of Educational Press and Sinhala Dictionary Board, and Richard Thenabadu, one of the leading academics tasked with formulating a national policy to standardize the use of the Sinhala language in 1965 and was also a popular judge at film and literary awards ceremonies were two of his seven uncles.

(References for Piyadasa Thenabadu : http://infosys.lib.vpa.ac.lk/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=7457&shelfbrowse_itemnumber=19105)

(References for Richard Thenabadu : https://www.dailymirror.lk/print/news-features/TEACHERS-TRAINING-COLLEGE-IN-MY-TIME-YEARS-AGO/131-158615 and https://www.sundaytimes.lk/980809/plus6.html and https://www.worldgenweb.org/lkawgw/gen1004.html and https://www.worldgenweb.org/lkawgw/gen3065.htm)

DVH Silva attended primary and secondary schools at Mahinda College Galle and Ananda College Colombo. He attended medical school and obtained his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degrees in 1955 from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo.

Dr. DVH Silva was married to Brigitine Mohini Irandati Goonewardene, daughter of Dr. Andre Vass Patabendige Samson De Vass Goonewardene (Dr. Sam Goonewardene) LMS (Ceylon), LDS (Manchester), LRCP&S (Ed), LRFP&S (Glass), and Mrs. P.H. Edna Dias (Edna was the daughter of P William Dias (c. 1870-1923) and Cecilia Violet Fernando of Panadura). Mohini's brothers are Anil Dahaman Goonewardene and Dr Daya Kirthilal Goonewardene (Known as DK) MBBS (Cey). Anil studied at Trinity College, Kandy and Royal College, Colombo before graduating as a lawyer in Ceylon. He then emigrated to the UK in the 1950s in his early twenties. Admitted as a Barrister in the UK, Anil taught law and Buddhism at the London Metropolitan University in the UK and served as the Buddhist representative to the Council of Religions for England and Wales until his death in 2015. Dr. DK was once the Matara DMO and a well-known GP in Matara.

(Reference for DVH, Mohini, Dr Sam and Edna : https://www.worldgenweb.org/lkawgw/gen3080a.html)

(Reference for Dr Sam Goonewardene : http://www.previousmoh.health.gov.lk/moh_final/english/hospital_profile.php?id=199#)

(Reference for P William Dias and his business PW Dias & Co : Twentieth Century Impressions of Ceylon by Arnold Reitz, pages 796 and 797. https://defonseka.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/20th-Century-Impressions-of-Ceylon-compressed.pdf)

(Reference for Anil Dahaman Goonewardene : https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/author/anil-goonewardene/, and https://www.amazon.com/Buddhayana-Living-Buddhism-Anil-Goonewardene/dp/0826423108 and https://anil-goonewardene.muchloved.com/)

DVH and Mohini have three children: Nelusha, Dharshan and Renuka. Nelusha is married to Dammike Dissanayake and both held senior managerial positions at HNB Bank. DVH and Mohini's son, Dharshan Silva has been a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of a listed financial institution in Sri Lanka since July 2020. Danesh Dissanayake (Australia), Shanuke Dissanayake (Australia), and Gayan Dissanayake (New Zealand) are the children of Nelusha and Dammike. Dr. (Mrs.) Rashmi Perera, MBBS, a general practitioner in Australia, is married to Danesh, a Senior Finance Consultant. Nirasha Bopearachchi LLB is the spouse of Shanuke Software Engineer.

(Reference for Dharshan - Page 06 of https://cdn.cse.lk/cmt/upload_report_file/1069_1724672115922.pdf)

CAREER / CONTRIBUTIONS TO MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH

DVH began his medical career at Polonnaruwa General Hospital in 1955. Since then, he has served as Medical Officer at Lady Ridgeway Hospital (LRH), De Soysa Maternity Hospital (DMH), Dompé Base Hospital and Kalutara General Hospital. He was subsequently appointed District Medical Officer (DMO) at Kotagala Base Hospital in 1963, Senior Medical Officer (SHO) at Castle Street Maternity Hospital in 1965 and Senior Medical Officer (SHO) at Colombo South General Hospital in 1967. During this period, he was fully registered as a practicing physician on the Commonwealth Register in 1965.

DVH pursued a career in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, being fully aware of the significant challenges that come with the role. As an obstetrician, he often encounters situations where the lives of both mothers and their babies may be at serious risk. After completing his postgraduate examinations at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists UK (established by Royal Charter) he obtained its membership status as MRCOG(UK). Upon returning to Sri Lanka, he rejoined the Ministry of Health as a Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist in 1969. As a consultant his first appointment was Visiting Obstetrician & Gynaecologist (VOG) at Panadura General Hospital in 1969. He then worked as a VOG at Colombo North General Hospital (Ragama) in 1974, Colombo South General Hospital (Kalubowila) in 1979 and finally moved as a VOG at Castle Street Women's Hospital (CSHW) - the flagship women's hospital in the Sri Lankan government sector in 1983. He retired from CSHW in 1988 at the age of 60.

For the majority of the 1960s and 1970s, health professionals in the public sector were prohibited from engaging in private practice. During this time, DVH strived to provide exceptional care to underprivileged patients who visited public hospitals to receive free medical care. During this time DVH also had the opportunity to guide and supervise medical students who were posted to the hospitals to gain experience. Many Senior House Officers (SHO's) who worked under DVH's supervision later became consultants. DVH was an unassuming medical professional who possessed the uncommon traits of being incredibly kind, sensitive, supportive, and compassionate.

(Reference for Health professionals in the public sector were prohibited from engaging in private practice. : https://www.sundaytimes.lk/150208/business-times/preserving-free-health-under-sri-lankas-privatisation-policy-134353.html)

In recognition of his unwavering commitment and significant contributions to maternal and child health, as well as to the medical profession, DVH was honored with election as a Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (FRCOG) UK in 1982. He was also awarded with a Fellowship of the College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Sri Lanka (FSLCOG) and additionally awarded with a Doctorate in Philosophy (PhD).