Sarvodaya conducts Malaria Walk in Kurunegala

A WALK to commemorate the World Anti Malaria Day fallen on 25th of April and get community involvement to eradicate it from Sri Lanka was held in Kurunegala on April 29, 2011. The walk was organized by Sarvodaya Community Health Unit together with the central and provincial Malaria offices. The walk also commemorated the inception of the anti-malaria movement of Sri Lanka in the town of Kurunegala 100 years ago.    

The walk started in the morning of April 29 near Suwa Medura on Kurunegala- Negombo road and proceeded along the Puttalam Road and passed the clock tower and Imperial Hall and came to Kandy Road. From Kandy Road, it proceeded alongside the Park and came to the Colombo Road through Rajapihilla Road. Then it passed Maliyadeva Girls School, Kandurugashandiya, Bauddaloka Road and Puwakgashandiya and came back to Suwa Medura.

The walk made a spectacular scene with people who came to Kurunegala town for various needs gathering to witness it.  A medicated mosquito net hoisted on a pick up truck displayed the importance of sleeping under medicated mosquito nets to be safe from malaria. Participants of the walk engaged in enlightening the public on the importance of joining hands to eradicate malaria from Sri Lanka.  The placards carried by the participants with various anti-malaria messages also got the attention of the people. Street dramas shown on the day of the walk and the day prior to the walk attracted crowds while raising awareness of malaria.

The Health Minister of the North Western Provincial Council Ashoka Wadigamangawa and Dr. Lalith Chandradasa, Director, Sarvodaya Malaria Project also joined the walk giving encouragement to the participants.   Among the participants of the walk were volunteers of Sarvodaya Movement, officers of the regional anti-malaria office, representatives of other governmental and non-governmental organizations and journalists.

The walk was part of a range of activities conducted by Sarvodaya to eradicate malaria which is funded by The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis & Malaria (GFATM). Sri Lanka has now reached the stage of eradicating Malaria, and to achieve this objective, Sarvodaya Community Health Unit conducts various activities to raise awareness, empower communities, increase community involvement and educate the public.

Sarvodaya has also organized walks and other awareness building programs in other malaria-prone areas in the country as well, which will be held on 13th of May in Polonnaruwa, on 20th of May in Kilinochchi, on 24th of May in Batticaloa and on  27th of May in Moneragala.

Long-servicing officers attached to the anti-malaria regional office in Kurunegala District received special awards at a felicitation ceremony held after the completion of the walk.