Union Assurance launches CSR brand

Union Assurance yesterday launched its CSR brand titled ‘Union Manushyathwaya’ to raise awareness on the various health issues that are plaguing the country.

The brand aims to create healthy communities countrywide in par with the company’s business strategy. The firm achieves this objective by disseminating vital information to the public regarding how to protect themselves from diseases such as dengue, diabetes and thalassemia.

Accordingly, the company has arranged a series of diabetes camps to be conducted in Colombo, Jaffna, Vavunia, Anuradhapura, Kurunegala, Kandy, Batticoloa and Matara between 7 and 14 December. An island wide leaflet distribution campaign will also be conducted during this period to raise awareness regarding thalassemia and dengue.

 “We have already received an enormous amount of support for our CSR initiatives from the communities we interact with. We intend to further expand our efforts under a unifying name and logo, which clearly expresses our intent and end goal,” Union Assurance CEO Dirk Pereira said.

Public and Health Department of the Colombo Municipal Council Chief Medical Officer of Health Ruwan Wijaymuni said that dengue patients in Colombo reduced by 25% this year compared to last year and has declined by 40% compared to 2013. The dengue mortality rate has dropped by 85%.

“We have been working with Union Assurance for the past three years for the prevention of dengue and starting from this year we will also concentrate on diabetes awareness. The hidden killer pandemic here is diabetes, where thousands of people die annually due to the disease. We have somewhat managed to control dengue within the Colombo city limits; however, we have lot of work to be done outside Colombo,” Wijaymuni added.

He stressed that diabetes is rapidly spreading around the country and immediate attention is required in order to control and prevent the disease.

   “The status of diabetes is even more dangerous than dengue. Recently, we had a screening program to check fasting blood sugar levels of individuals. From that sample, we expected to recognise only 15% of individuals who are prone to diabetes, but that number was shockingly high – as high as 50%. Generally, statistics tell us that around 20% of adults who’re over 40 are likely to be diagnosed with diabetes but this is rapidly spreading in Sri Lanka at a very alarming rate,” he said.

Speaking on his area of expertise, National Thalassemia Centre Child Specialist Dr. J. M. Nilam noted, “the best way to avoid thalassemia is to raise awareness. We have been receiving the support of Union Assurance to spread information and awareness about the disease for quite some time now. I believe that under the new banner of ‘Union Manushyathwaya,’ these efforts will expand and continue to make a positive impact on communities.”