COVID-19 PREVENTION AND HEALTH PROMOTION PROGRAMME (INDIGENOUS MEDICINE)

COVID-19 Prevention and Health Promotion Proramme

COVID – 19 is spreading worldwide. Increasing the number of infected persons, in both developed and developing countries, alarms emergency status regarding the health of the community. Government and health authorities in Sri Lanka has taken necessary steps to control the spreading the COVID – 19 and for conservation of health and wellbeing of the both infected and non-infected people of the country. Dedication of health workers, professionals, service providers under the guidance of presidential task force for prevention and management of COVID – 19 pandemic is greatly appreciated.

The prevailing dangers of this novel infectious disease have not been completely eradicated locally or globally. There are possibilities to resume many adverse situations at the moment of release of established restrictions. Continuation of some restrictions may cause degradation of national economy, workforce and development processes leading the whole nation to the poverty. While continuing the established measures for the prevention and management of this pandemic disaster, a great necessity is emerging to improve the physical, mental and social wellbeing of the community, to preserve the normality of the lifestyle, and to develop the indigenous resources, which are potential to enhance the wealth of the country. Indigenous knowledge, indigenous systems of medicine, social and cultural norms and many other practices of many countries have contributed greatly for the conservation and development of those countries in many catastrophic situations. Indigenous System of Medicine in Sri Lanka, which intermingle the indigenous social and cultural values, possesses considerable resources to contribute effectively to enhance the better outcomes of strategies implemented in the preservation and management of better health status, economic status, wealth and prosperity of the country.

Unfortunately, Sri Lankan society has been deviating drastically for many years from the laws of nature due to negligence of moral values of the nature resulting in dependency and destitution. The resources available in this small Island are more than sufficient, if they are utilized, preserved and developed appropriately within a well organized systematic frame, to uplift the social, cultural, economic and health status of the country. Indigenous system of medicine and Ayurveda, which bear common indigenous philosophical and scientific foundation, concern the human issues holistically and advise to maintain a highest standard of quality of life. The prime aim of this programme is to convince the general public to apply traditional indigenous medical methods and measurements to prevent getting infected by viruses and other microorganism so as to maintain a healthy life and to improve the health status of the community and quality of life.