Rotary Focused Areas

We are dedicated to six areas of focus to improve lives, fight diseases, educate our younger generation, protect our environment and promote peace among communities

PEACE & CONFLICT PREVENTION / RESOLUTION

Ever since the beginning of the human race, there had been conflicts over lands, properties, and almost anything and everything. However, centuries of extreme experiences have shown us that war brings nothing but misery and disaster to everyone, no matter who wins or loses in the end. With the realization of this phenomenon, the Rotary International stepped up with the Focus Area of Peace and Conflict Prevention to build a safer world for all of us. According to data, 20,000 people are killed by landmines each year, about 51 million people are displaced by armed conflicts or persecution. It is also shown that 90% of casualties in armed conflicts are civilians, while at least half are children. All these facts, including the number of child soldiers (about 300,000) who are believed to be involved in conflicts around the world, further prove the need for immediate action, which Rotary has already begun. Rotary International is now in action with projects to help children who have been orphaned, injured, or traumatized by conflict, provide relief to those who have fled areas of conflict.

DISEASE PREVENTION & TREATMENT

Even with rapid improvements in medical technologies, the newest miraculous remedies in some parts of the world still cannot afford even minimum health care facilities, not even as a basic need. Data shows that 57 countries around the world have fewer than 23 health workers for every 10,000 people, and also 2.4 million doctors, nurses, midwives, and other skilled caregivers are needed worldwide right now. Moreover, it shows that every one in six people in the world cannot afford health care facilities. Considering all these facts, Rotary International has established its second focus area: Disease Prevention and Treatment with the utmost purpose of healing the struggling world. With that purpose, Rotary International is currently active on projects such as improving and expanding access to low-cost and free health care in underserved areas, supporting continuing education and training for health workers through scholarships, stipends, and public recognition, supporting health education programs that explain how diseases are spread and promoting ways to reduce the risk of transmission and also helping to immunize people against infectious diseases especially with the ongoing covid 19 pandemic situation.

ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

The economy of a country is comprised of many elements such as gross domestic product, national income, employment and so on. Sociology, psychology, good health, and social work are some parts of community development. The contribution of all the factors is important to community development. Sustainability in the economy and community development is one of the Rotary Focus Areas and through the development of these sectors the well-being of every individual is impacted. Supporting one another in every possible way, Rotary and Rotaract clubs extend their support in accomplishing this goal of development. "Prarthana 2021, Equal, Snehadana 2020, Clean Hands and Track the Spread '' are some projects organized by the Rotaract Club of University of Kelaniya which were implied to contribute by covering this specific Rotary Focus Area.

BASIC EDUCATION AND LITERACY

The power of a pen and the knowledge about the world have the potential to drive society towards victory. Education and literacy is the main driving force to empower individuals and nourish society as a whole. Improvement of basic education and literacy will lead to a reduction in poverty, creation of employment opportunities, stabilization of society and reduction of conflicts etc. Therefore, Rotaract Clubs have also focused on developing basic education and literacy. Many projects have been implied, mainly focusing on this specific RotaryFocus Area, which supports the education of students by encouraging reading and providing a platform to improve literacy among the future generation.

WATER & SANITATION

Water is the lifeblood of the planet. It enhances the purity of our lives. Sanitation is called to public health issues related to clean and sufficient drinking water and the disposal of human waste and sewage. Around 2.2 billion people still lack access to encounter adequate drinking water. Safe and affordable drinking water for each and everyone is needed by 2030. It’s because the water insufficiency and scarcity, livelihood choices, and educational opportunities for poor families affect the global more seriously than ever. We have to take a quick glance and action to the water and sanitation-related diseases. Water and health contaminated water and pure Sanitation are linked to diseases like Cholera, diarrhea, dysentery, hepatitis, typhoid, and polio, etc. It is evident that absent, inadequate, and managed water and Sanitation expose human beings to unpredictable health risks as well. Sri Lanka is on track to the betterment of basic access to clean drinking water and Sanitation. Safe and adequate drinking water and proper Sanitation facilities through better hygiene are crucial to human health and well-being at the same time. Promoting good hygiene habits through education, proper handwashing with soap could affect to reduce diseases by up to 35 percent. It’s important to implement the new methods to improve water sanitation and hygiene, safe drinking water, sanitation, and good hygiene needs in an adequate and proper manner throughout the island.

MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH

Maternal and child health(MCH)is well known matter in the community as it holds the future of a country.It refers to the health of women during pregnancy, childbirth and the Post natal period as each stage should be a positive experience.Maternal and child health programme mainly focuses on the health issues concerning women,children and families including the aspects relating to the access to recommended prenatal and well-child care,infant and maternal mortality prevention,maternal and child mental healt,newborn screening,child immunization,child nutritions etc.Improving the wellbeing of mothers,infants and children is a highly crucial public health goal as a rotary focus area.Their wellness dedicates the future generations and helps the prediction of future public health challenges for families,communities and the health core systems. There are 5 components of MCH and they are the maternal newborn and child health services, the health communications, health supplies and health system strengthening.In Sri Lanka,it is significant to observe that the system of MCH services has involved as a part of the general health service.Maternal and child health is one of the crucial public health issues because,it is the best opportunity to end preventable deaths among all the women,children in the island.