Civil society calls for transparency in vaccination programme

Text and pictures by PRIYAN DE SILVA

Addressing the media in Colombo on Thursday, Sakunthala Kadiragamar representing the Civil Society Collective for Covid19 Response called upon the government to be more systematic and transparent in carrying out the vaccination drive.

Kadiragamar said that there were numerous allegations of irregularities and political interference in the vaccination process in the past but admitted that it had been carried out more systematically during the past two weeks or so. She called upon the authorities to be more transparent by keeping the people updated at all times.

She said that the government should publicise the plan it had submitted to WHO as regards the administration of the vaccines received from it.

The CSO Collective comprises a core of 15 CSOs together with another 100 or more Civil society organisations spread throughout the Island

Co-convener Rohana Hettiarachchi said that the CSO collective had provided food and sanitary supplies worth over Rs. 50 million to 500 institutions such as childrens homes, elders homes, womens shelters, centers for persons with disabilities and rehabilitation centres during the first wave of the pandemic in 2020.

Co-convener Dr. Vinya Ariyarathna said the CSO collective would be providing another two weeks supply of dry rations to over 800 childrens homes, elders homes, womens shelters, centers for persons with disabilities and rehabilitation centres in 18 districts by the end of July.

Asked whether the CSO Collective was satisfied with the manner in which the government was managing the third wave of the pandemic Dr Ariyarathna said that there were only a few minor shortcomings and added that as Sri Lanka had an efficient health service it would be possible to contain the pandemic with the support of the public.