Community Engagement
Community participation is central to sustaining malaria elimination.
The Anti-Malaria Campaign (AMC) promotes active community engagement to build awareness, encourage early testing, and strengthen preventive practices that reduce mosquito breeding and human–vector contact.
Objectives of Community Engagement
- To create public awareness on malaria prevention and early detection.
- To encourage health-seeking behavior among people returning from endemic countries.
- To empower communities to identify and eliminate mosquito breeding sites.
- To promote responsible travel and adherence to malaria prophylaxis.
- To build partnerships with local authorities, workplaces, and schools for long-term vigilance.
Key Activities
1. Health Education and Awareness Campaigns
- Awareness programs are conducted in schools, factories, temples, mosques, and workplaces.
- Information materials such as leaflets, posters, videos, and social media content are distributed to educate the public about malaria symptoms, testing, and prevention.
- Messages are customized in Sinhala, Tamil, and English to reach all communities.
2. Engagement of Local Leaders and Volunteers
- Community and religious leaders, youth groups, and local government officers are involved in malaria awareness drives.
- Trained Community Malaria Volunteers (CMVs) assist in case detection, health education, and vector surveillance in rural and high-risk areas.
3. Collaboration with Private Sector and Institutions
- Partnerships with construction companies, tourism operators, plantation sectors, and employers of migrant workers ensure regular screening and preventive actions.
- Educational institutions and universities are supported to screen foreign students from endemic countries.
4. Community-Based Vector Control
- Communities are mobilized to identify and eliminate standing water sources such as tanks, drains, and containers.
- Environmental clean-up campaigns are conducted in collaboration with local health authorities and municipal councils.
- Residents are encouraged to use Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs) and repellents, especially in receptive regions.
AMC’s Message to the Public
“Malaria-free does not mean malaria is gone forever. Every citizen must remain vigilant — test for malaria if fever develops after travel, destroy mosquito breeding sites, and report suspicious cases to health authorities.”
How You Can Help
- Get tested for malaria after returning from an endemic country — even if you feel well.
- Sleep under a mosquito net every night.
- Keep your home and surroundings free of stagnant water.
- Support malaria screening programs in your area.
- Spread the word — awareness saves lives.
Together for a Malaria-Free Sri Lanka
The success of malaria elimination depends not only on surveillance and health systems but also on community ownership.
Through education, partnership, and collective action, Sri Lanka continues to stand as a global example of how communities and public health authorities can work together to maintain a malaria-free nation.