“COVID Free Pera” in full gear
View(s):COVID-19 is a respiratory disease that has been declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organization. Sri Lanka, over the past 3 months has reported more than 2000 cases. The situation is well under control now and the authorities are planning an exit strategy.
With the community spread of COVID 19 Universities of Sri Lanka were closed and academic work was carried out online. Now, as Sri Lanka has been able to get the country successfully through the lockdown stage and currently slowly on its way to bring the daily life back to normal, it is the time to prepare and reopen Universities under proper implementations of guidelines.
Project “COVID Free Pera” is an initiative by Rotaract Club of the University of
Peradeniya in collaboration with Rotaract in Rotary International District 3220 Sri
Lanka and Maldives, to make University of Peradeniya a COVID controlled
Environment. We are happy to announce that AIESEC in the University of Peradeniya, perabeats Life and Sports Council of University of Peradeniya, have got together with this project.
We aim to prevent an outbreak of the pandemic among students and staff of the University by implementing proper sanitation procedures and awareness. The scope of the project includes conducting awareness campaigns, installing disinfection methods, and monitoring the progress.
We have accomplished three main procedures under “COVID Free Pera” as following.
The awareness programs are conducting by sharing online posters as well as posters on notice boards and entrances, and also putting up signboards at washbasins, etc. The awareness posters and videos are designed highlighting safety protocols and targeting the mental health of university undergraduates.
Furthermore, a physical awareness workshop was conducted on the 30th of July 2020 at the Art Theatre of University of Peradeniya with the help of the university response team. A group of volunteers composed of 50 students has participated in this workshop as TaskForce to spread awareness among undergraduates. Those volunteers will monitor daily and a progress report will be prepared by them weekly. Dr. Veranja Liyanapathirana, Dr. P.M.A. Samarakkody, Deputy medical officer of university health center and Public health inspector of the university have conducted lectures on Corona virus and safety protocols.
These days we are installing 30 hand washing stations at some places in the university as a part of this massive project. These donations are fund by Rotary COVID – 19 Response Task Force and the donation ceremony will be held on the 1st of September at senate premises.
The entire purpose of this project is to facilitate the smooth reopening of the university after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. This means ensuring that there is little to no risk of an outbreak occurring within University students, staff, and all related personnel. The University, in ordinary circumstances, can be regarded as high risk, considering the close association of students with each other, especially in accommodation facilities such as hostels. The task of COVID FREE PERA is to minimize the possible modes of transmission of the disease, in case an infected person happens to come to the University.