JVP says today health workers have to fight on two fronts

NPP Kalutara district candidate Dr Nalinda Jayatissa addressing a health workers’ conference at Hotel Nippon in Colombo.

by Saman Indrajith

Health workers while fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic are compelled to fight another battle simultaneously against the government to secure their due allowances, the JVP says.

Addressing a health workers’ conference at the Hotel Nippon in Colombo on Saturday, NPP Kalutara District candidate Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said that that one of the main promises of the NPP was to strengthen the public health service.

“The need for a strong public health service is felt more than evern before. It was the health workers who took the lead with the security forces in the fight against coronavirus pandemic. Many other countries that have private health services failed to prevent the spread of the virus. Now the people can understand of the meaning of why we took to the streets for the sake of free healthcare. Sri Lanka irrespective of whatever shortcomings, made a special contribution to the public healthcare since the time of the British rulers till 1977 and thanks to those efforts our public healthcare system has spread all over the country covering all villages. However since 1977, like many other sectors healthcare system was pushed towards privatisation. We stood with people against privatisation and thanks to those agitations the system could not be fully sold off to companies,” Dr. Jayatissa said.

Dr. Jayatissa said that the government invented a title by the name Suva Viruvo for the health workers but there were no tangible means of appreciating their dedicated service. “Today health workers have to fight in two fronts. In one front they fight against the COVID-19 to keep the pandemic at bay and on another front they fight against the government to secure their due allowances. Public Health Inspectors are on strike because this government did not listen to their grievances. This government will dish out praises and accolades, but nothing else. The moment you stand for your rights, you’ll see the real picture of this government. Take the case of war heroes for example. They were called Rana Viruvo. Their food ration has been cut off so each of them now getting less than Rs 19,000. The promises given to the disabled soldiers are not implemented yet. If this is their way before the election, one can imagine their conduct after the election if they come to power,” Dr. Jayatissa said.

Prof. Krishantha Abeysinghe said that the MPs of main parties used their posts for business purposes and not as a means of rendering public service. It had to be changed. That could be done only by electing more NPP members to Parliament.

Dr Nimal Edirisinghe also addressed the conference.