Anti-Malaria Campaigns Just Like the Peace Campaigns are Fast Bucks for NGOs

By Darmitha-Kotte

The Island newspaper of 31st August 2006 carried an article written by Sangeevi Jayasuriya titled " Campaign to Stop Spread of Malaria to Continue" in which the writer says "Sri Lanka has been successful in controlling the spread of Malaria in the country. However, it is important to continue the anti-malaria campaign in order to prevent further spreading of the disease, the Minister of Healthcare and Nutrition Nimal Siripala de Silva said." Further down the article it is also stated " We need to consider the situation carefully before taking measures to withdraw the assistance by the government to eradicate malaria", he said emphasizing that we should not leave room for another epidemic." Apparently the Minister distributed seven brand new double cab vehicles and a truck for the use of the anti-Malaria campaign offices in the affected districts. This article also states that the Global fund for AIDS,TB and Malaria (GFATM)) had launched a streamline programme to eradicate Malaria three years ago and that the affected districts of Kurunegala, Hambantota, Matale, Puttalam and Ratnapura and through this programme 265,000 mosquito nets had already been distributed and a further 10,000 nets will be provided during the next three years.

The Ministry of Healthcare and Nutrition would do well to organize Public Health Inspectors who are government servants, to organize at government level, proper eradication campaigns as was done in the past when NGOs were non-existent where they employed labourers and staff to spearhead proper eradication campaigns by clearing and spraying mosquito breeding grounds if they seriously want to eradicate the mosquito menace. At least the government could also generate employment for those who seek employment while at the same time achieving a systematic elimination of disease carrying mosquitoes. We used to see labourers, carrying spray guns visiting infested areas and spraying insecticides on a systematic and regular manner when we were kids. Unfortunately, due to some unforeseen situations this operation has ceased to exist. High time this was reactivated throughout the country. It would be far cheaper than paying NGOs and providing vehicles for shoddy jobs which serve no purpose. At the same time, a poor man would earn his daily bread!

One question comes into the minds of the reader when reading this article- "Can the distribution of mosquito nets eradicate Malaria?" A massive number of 265,000 nets have already been distributed for this purpose! To the "illiterate and innocent citizen" in this country, "eradication" means eliminating, destroying and cleaning the breeding grounds of the Malaria mosquito that spreads Malaria. Can a mosquito net do this? What the mosquito nets will do, is to prevent the human being from being bitten by the said mosquito- that does not mean that the breeding grounds will stop breeding the Malaria mosquito! Does the recipient of the mosquito net go around his/her daily chores covering himself with the mosquito net to prevent himself/herself from being bitten? Does this sound logical to anyone- ridiculous isn't it?

One NGO that is involved in this ridiculous "eradication" project is Sarvodaya, which has received an unbelievably large amount of funds for this work. From very reliable sources we learn that one mosquito net is being distributed to each household/family. A family could mean two, three, four, five or six even seven members. Are they all expected to squeeze inside one 6'x4' or 7'x5' net sideways on a mat or bed, to prevent themselves from being bitten by the Malaria mosquito in the night? I t is left to the reader to understand the logic of this exercise! Those who use mosquito nets will know the measurements of the largest net available in the market, and will be able to understand that this operation is a sham to say the least.

During the last 3-4 years Sarvodaya also received an amount exceeding Rs.2 million from a leading International Funding Organization, for them to bring peace to the country. How they "hoped to achieve peace" was to transport a large number of bus loads of paid citizens to come to Colombo and sit down in meditation at BMICH or in other big cities! Did they conduct meditation camps for LTTE terrorists in Kilinochchi or Vavuniya because it is the LTTE terrorists who need to understand what peace all about? Having spent all that money, have we attained peace in the country? Nevertheless, the Sarvodaya Leader was in Canada to receive a prestigious " Peace Prize" from Canada during the period that our Army Commander Lt.Gen. Sarath Fonseka, was attacked by LTTE terrorists and seriously injured! How many other brutal atrocities were committed after the receipt of the above mentioned Peace Prize?

Sarvodaya is quite experienced in putting forward convincing proposals to funding organizations for poverty-alleviation projects, self-employment projects, social development projects or literacy programmes- you name it, they can do almost anything. They are also extremely experienced in misusing honourable names like Vinobha Bhave and Gandhiji to suit their whims and fancies about non-violence, or the virtues of The Buddha's teachings for them to obtain funds. Supposedly, they have been in this business for over four decades. What are the success stories of their projects? If their projects have been successful through forty years of operations, today Sri Lanka would have no war, be economically and socially completely self-sufficient, and we would not be a country without electricity, telecommunications or proper roadways for 50% of the country.

Like Sarvodaya, there are many other NGOs that are making fast bucks due to the ignorance of International Donor/Funding organizations who are ever ready to be duped by eloquent project proposals. It is sad to note that it is not the end user who benefits from these funding projects but the NGOs that obtain funding through the use of "lofty project proposals."

Anything can be put on paper but its practicability and effectiveness is yet to be witnessed in this country.