A clean-up programme was held on 14th August 2009 with the keen participation of all Foundation of Goodness staff in Seenigama, to combat mosquito breeding and particularly to tackle the problem of dengue fever, which has seen a rise in recent months especially with the onset of the monsoon season in the south.

The program was conducted in collaboration with the Hikkaduwa MOH office.  Two Public Health Inspectors from the MOH office were in attendance throughout the program. The local provincial council provided a lorry to collect the garbage throughout the day.  FoG provided meals for all participants.

The areas covered included the Galle Road, Seenigama Devol Temple, the village temple and housing complexes including Victoria Gardens, KPMG/LOLC Housing Project and Aviva Village.

Dr. Shirley, GP and Sector Coordinator for the Seenigama Medicare Centre, reports  that “in general, there was a lot of cleaning-up to be done.  The drains along the Galle Road were filled with stagnant water as they were highly clogged with solid garbage.  Once the garbage was removed, the water was seen to be flowing freely.”

There were also huge garbage dumps along that stretch of Galle Road. Once it was all cleaned up, on the advice of the Public Health Officers, the caretaker of the Devol Temple undertook to provide a garbage collection facility outside the temple and to communicate with the local authorities for quick disposal.

After the clean-up the residents took part in an education programme where  they were  taught the disadvantages of not keeping their gardens and public areas free of garbage and the importance of keeping their environment clean in order to protect themselves from contagious diseases.

The Foundation of Goodness is very proud of their staff who volunteered to participate in this program and of their enthusiastic response to the needs of the community.

Kushil, Founder and Trustee of the Foundation of Goodness, was very pleased with the initiative. He said that “we provide free health-care to 1600 patients every month, from around 40 villages in the region, but this sort of preventative work is just as important. Forward thinking action will bear fruit now and in years to come in uplifting people's expectations and giving them the services they need to live long, prosperous, healthy and happy lives, which is our wish for humanity in the end, for a better world.”

 
“Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful,
committed citizens can change the world.
Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
- Margaret Mead

2009.09.21