What is it?
The Itukama Project is a fund raising initiative for the COVID-19 Healthcare and Social Security Fund established by His Excellency, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to support and strengthen activities aimed at mitigating the spread of COVID-19 as well as related social welfare programmes. The Fund was established with a donation of Rs 100 million from the President’s Fund. The fund will address the critical healthcare needs brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and improve Sri Lanka’s long term preparedness for health emergencies
Lives First
COVID-19 revealed the national priorities of many nations around the world. Some gave priority to business and politics; others to personal freedom and liberties. Sri Lanka chose to place the lives of its people before all else.
It is a purpose that has been fundamental to how we have approached the crisis from the outset. Difficult decisions had to be taken – ones that were often unpopular and often criticized; decisions that included curfews, arrests and bringing the economy to a virtual standstill. Ultimately these were decisions that placed lives first above all else.
First Responders and Families
As COVID-19 wreaks havoc across the world and our little nation, our brave government servants, medical personnel, members of the tri-forces and the police have not hesitated to face the threat head on. They have chosen to place our lives above their own and the lives of the ones they love; they stand today on the front lines battling this deadly pandemic so that we may safely stay at home.
Our Itukama
The time has now come for us to do our part for the ones who valiantly protect our lives.
The time has come to honour the ones who have gone beyond the call of duty for our nation.
This is our moment to contribute to a national need.
To fulfil your Itukama and be a partaker in the healing of our nation, pledge your gratitude by donating to the Itukama National Fund today.
What is the Goal?
The primary and immediate goal of the Fund will be to ensure the health and safety of those in the health sector and other essential service providers while enabling the state to aid the population made vulnerable by COVID-19. The fund will also be used for critical investments in improving national preparedness for contagions by minimising vulnerabilities in the present healthcare capabilities.
What will the funds be utilized for
- Expenditure incurred by Director General, Health Services in the management of COVID-19 including healthcare facilities, drugs, testing equipment and capacity building
- The facilitation of the health and safety of health sector employees and all logistics providers working to provide essential public delivery services during the ongoing pandemic.
- Provision of basic essentials to identified vulnerable groups including children, women, low income earners, the elderly and differently abled.
- Strengthen public healthcare systems and reduce national risk of communicable diseases, including rural dispensaries, testing and treatment centres.
- Promotion of research and innovation in health and sanitation, including indigenous medicine and the use of local raw material.
- Support local innovations in protective clothing and sanitations products that can be marketed globally.
- Promotion of healthy living through media and educational programmes.
