Monday Jul 08, 2024
Monday Jul 08, 2024
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The Rotary Club of Colombo Reconnections in a very ambitious initiative has launched a unique project termed ‘Brand: Stop the Spread’.
The objective of the project is to mobilise the 16,000 likeminded people in the country – Rotarians, Rotaractors and Interactors – to practice and lead the ‘containment’ of COVID-19 in Sri Lanka, said Project Chairman Dushan Soza.
“There is no stronger organisation in Sri Lanka than Rotary, which has the ideal skill set for project management that can shoulder this very challenging task supporting the efforts of the Government of Sri Lanka,” said Soza, who also sits on the Rotary International Strategic Planning Team in Evanston, USA.
The Chief Guest at the Zoom conference event was Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medicine Secretary Badrani Jayawardena.
The Project Director Dr. Rohantha Athukorala explained how the project has three components. The first phase of the communication is on the theme ‘Are you ready to take the challenge of Stopping the Spread?’ with a brand endorsement by the top athletes of the country from the Sri Lanka Olympic Committee (NOC).
The second phase of the project is where 46 Rotary clubs from across the country took an oath ‘Service above self’ and have agreed to champion the ‘Implementing a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)’ as stated by the Ministry of Health at supermarkets, manufacturing companies, and education institutes like universities in the respective geographic areas across the country, so that the next wave of COVID-19 can be mitigated.
The third and final phase is where ‘certification process’ will be done where a Rotary Club together with the Public Health Inspectors (PHI) and quality assurance companies, so that the general public will be assured that the location is a control environment that is free of COVID-19.
“We will support the Government efforts of containment of COVID-19, which is the greatest challenge that Sri Lanka has faced post World War I,” voiced Dr. Athukorala.
Award-winning business personality and First Lady Governor of Rotary Sri Lanka and Maldives Gowri Rajan said: “Rotary has shouldered many challenging projects like supporting governments around the world to make the country ‘polio free’ – which included in Sri Lanka a truce in 1993 between the Government and the LTTE to immunise the children in the north east of Sri Lanka. Then, Rotary conceptualised and launched the Rs. 400 million Human Heart Valve Bank at LRH where 3,500 kids had the ability to live and enjoy the first birthday. But, I do accept the most challenging project Rotary will embark on is ‘Brand: Stop the Spread’ as it has killed over a 150,000 people and infected almost two million of humanity globally whilst in Sri Lanka, we have lost seven lives and almost 290 infected with the lethal COVID-19.”
At the Zoom conference launch, the Guest of Honour was K. Ravindran – the only Sri Lankan to have held the global position of being the Rotary International President. “It is a unique and ambitious project but given the strong team behind the project, it can make a positive contribution to the containment of the COVID-19. The project has the potential to be a ‘best practice – globally’ that can be replicated not only in South Asia but globally. You have my support as you venture out,” said Ravindran, an icon of the world of Rotary.
The initiating club Rotary club of Colombo Reconnections is unique given that it is the second Rotary club globally which was set up for Group Study Exchange scholars of Rotary. “We are proud to drive this project for Sri Lanka,” said President Champa Perera.
Concluding the launch Rotary Governor Elect for Sri Lanka and Maldives Corporate personality Ajith Weerasinghe opined: “The project is undoubtedly the best project that we have seen in Sri Lanka in its history as every Sri Lankan’s life is at threat and Rotary can make a serious positive impact to society. I am confident that Rotarians in Sri Lanka will take the challenge and make the community a safe place to live. But I must acknowledge it’s a tough project. I will monitor the performance weekly together with the Chairman and core committee,” said Governor Elect Ajith Weerasinghe.
The sponsor of the project selected by the steering committee was a Hemas Holdings consumer brand for germ protection, Shield. Hemas has already handed over their premium hotel property, Dolphin, as a COVID-19 centre to the Government of Sri Lanka.
“The company also gifted a robot for inpatient treatment at Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital and we are honoured to be part of the project with Sri Lanka National Olympic Committee (NOC) and Rotary,” said Category Head Hemas Consumer Naveed Anjoon.
The Sri Lanka National Olympic Committee President Suresh Subramanian said: “This is a national cause and our top athletes endorsing the project can help build a new culture with new habits among people. We are honoured to be part of this national agenda.” Subramanian is also Vice President of the Asian Tennis Federation.
Commenting on relaxing of curfew, Dr. Athukorala’s view was that at some point the decision has to be made to move away from ‘hammer’ (lockdown) to ‘dance’ (allowing the economy to tick) which is the global theory of COVID-19 management.
“If this tough decision is not made the country can go into an economic crisis that can result in a serious financial crisis for companies. Our task now is to flatten the curve in the key markets of Gampaha, Jaffna and Colombo where there is a spike seen in the last few days. We will make ‘Brand: Stop the Spread’ get traction in Sri Lanka,” said Dr. Athukorala.
