Community health programmes need of the hour: Prof.Vitharana

• Stressed the need for launching one or two educational TV channels to teach school children as the pandemic may last for two more years

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana  

Calling for a policy shift with regard to COVID 19 control, government MP Dr. Tissa Vitharana yesterday said Sri Lanka should focus on effective community health programmes at village level rather than focusing on vaccines.  

Prof.Vitharana who is a virologist by profession said an all-party committee which comprises representatives of MPs from political parties representing Parliament should be appointed. “It will also be possible to form committees at village level and get those committees to educate the people in the villages on how to avoid the spread of COVID-19. The main message that should be given to people is that there is a community spread at the moment and that social distancing and cleaning of hands will stop the disease from spreading,” the MP said.  

“This kind of a programme will save funds., Effective community health programs will save funds which the government uses for vaccines. Also vaccines should be given to only vulnerable groups,” he added. Also he stressed the need for a programme to stop the spread of Delta variant as the situation will be worse if this variant starts spreading, In addition he stressed the need for launching one or two education TV channels to teach school children as the pandemic may last for two more years.