Today, community health is deteriorating throughout the island. Once upon a time there was an epidemic, and today they are limited to a name that takes the lead in a health program in the area. Their duty is performed by another group.
Community experts take the lead in controlling epidemics. They are staffed by medical officers, public health inspectors and family health workers.
According to former Health Minister and current Member of Parliament Rajitha Senaratne, these community doctors have been working from time immemorial to prevent various epidemics, maternal and child deaths. That is why we were once awarded internationally as the country with the lowest rates of child and maternal mortality.
In a country with skilled and experienced community experts, others have taken the lead in combating the Kovid epidemic.
Today, it is the military that releases the country’s travel restrictions, quarantine rules, current information on the covid situation, etc. to the media. Or politicians. Vaccination is also done as politicians want. Today, all community doctors have to wear masks.
At present there are 03 covid vaccines in the country. Those are the vaccines of Astronica, Cyanoform and Sputnik. All these vaccines have been received as gifts in the country and only 500,000 vaccines have been purchased in the country.
The Association of Community Physicians points out that so far only 8% of Sri Lankans have received the first dose of these vaccines. They have also observed that there are many decision makers in this Kovid suppression process and some of them are unwanted individuals. They have also observed that the decisions they make are occasional decisions, not strategic strategies.
He said the vaccine did not have a long-term plan, did not have a vaccination priority list and had no idea how to supply the demand. The Association of Community Physicians also sees the vaccine as a weakness, saying that unwanted people are hindering the vaccination process.
The association further stated that there is uncertainty in everything and that the ability to vaccinate those who need it has been lost by giving the vaccine to those who do not need it.
Furthermore, we need to break free from the mindset that says we did the best we can and be humble and give the right place to the right person.