Community engagement essential to control pandemic: Fmr CMO CMC

• It will be a useful exercise if community associations are formed to educate people on how to prevent the spread rather than enforcing laws on them

By Yohan Perera 

Community engagement is essential for successful control of COVID-19 pandemic, a former health official said yesterday. 

Former Chief Medical Officer of Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) Dr. Pradeep Kariyawasam told Daily Mirror that it is essential to involve the community in COVID-19 control programme. 

“It will be a useful exercise if community associations are formed to educate people on how to prevent the spread of COVID-19 rather than enforcing laws on them. Community engagement programmes that have been launched in the past to control dengue have been a success. Therefore, why don’t we launch community participation programmes in all parts of the country to control the current pandemic?” he questioned. 

He also recommended awareness programmes such as walks with limited participation to educate people on the COVID-19 pandemic.