Sri Lanka's Ministry of Health is beginning a new community empowerment initiative tomorrow aimed at strengthening public participation in dengue prevention efforts through behavioral change strategies.
The Ministry of Health will formally launch a pilot project focused on community empowerment in dengue control starting tomorrow in selected areas of Colombo District. The initiative employs communication-based strategies designed to encourage behavioral shifts among residents and boost the effectiveness of existing dengue prevention programmes.
The project will operate across multiple Medical Officer of Health zones in the Colombo District. A behavioral survey will be conducted as part of the effort to identify effective ways of increasing community involvement in dengue prevention activities. Officials believe that public participation working alongside government initiatives is crucial for achieving meaningful progress against dengue.
The official inauguration ceremony is scheduled for 9.00 a.m. tomorrow at the Boralesgamuwa Medical Officer of Health Office. The event will be presided over by Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena, with Acting Director of the National Dengue Control Unit Dr. Kapila Kannangara and other health sector representatives in attendance.
The pilot project represents an attempt to develop new approaches for dengue control by focusing on community engagement rather than government action alone. By identifying effective behavioral change strategies through the planned survey, health authorities hope to create a model that can be expanded to other areas facing dengue transmission challenges.
