To Study the Strategies Adopted by Public Health Sector in Sri Lanka for the Prevention and Control of Spread of COVID-19

COVID-19 pandemic is continuously spreading across the world. Sri Lankan health care system relies mainly on the government sector which is responsible for providing universal care for all the citizens. This case study was carried out to study the strategies adopted by public health sector in Sri Lanka for the prevention and control of spread of Covid -19. Data were collected through review of literature and key informant interviews with officials who formulated the policies and strategies and heads of selected public health sector institutions who implemented them. Findings: Vision of Sri Lanka was a proactive intervention. National action committee; National operation center; Health sector; State Intelligence Service; Defense forces and the Police were involved in implementing strategies to prevent and control Covid 19 outbreak. Strategies in the preventive health sector included early detection, contact tracing, self - quarantine or centre quarantine of contacts with the assistance of the State Intelligence Service, Defense forces and the Police. Strategies in the curative health sector included Designation of Covid treatment hospitals; Improving diagnostic facilities; strengthening clinical management of patients and management of hospitals. Whole of government approach was the strategy and Hammer and dance theory was the process, adopted by Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan model was an aggressive strenuous and continuous process. Preventive health sector, laboratory sector, curative sector and the supply sector had an excellent coordination, collaboration and synchronization to attain this common goal.