My name is Rohini and I am from Kirinda. We recently had our daughter’s ceremony for attaining age. In our village, it is considered a village custom to serve alcohol at functions or ceremonies of any sort. Alcohol was served at almost all the functions and ceremonies that were held previously. During the organizing phase of our function, my husband and son suggested that we should serve alcohol as they were planning on inviting people from their workplaces. I knew …
Author: Amaranath Tenna
I am a public health midwife (PHM) at the Madirigiriya MOH office in Polonnaruwa. There was a successful change in society once discussions regarding drug prevention began at maternal clinics and parenting sessions. I will describe one family whom I was directly involved with. One pregnant mother often tells me that her husband takes alcohol. Although she did not find this a problem, she disliked it. She requested my help to stop it. When I inquired about the husband, she …
My name is W.G. Sepali. I am a member of the Janashakthi Bank in Bandagiriya. I run a grocery store where I used to sell cigarettes. The head of the Janashakthi association Miss Indika showed me how selling cigarettes cause more harm than good to the people. After explaining all the pros and cons of selling cigarettes, she requested me to stop. Although there was only a small profit from cigarette sales, I had to think twice about my decision …
“Smokers smell bad… They smell bad every second every minute and every hour…” We made pre-school children recite this poem. Our intention was to implant in their minds that people who smoke smell bad. Our hope was that the children would sing this poem at home which would, in turn, discourage any smokers within the family. One mother of a pre-school child said that when her husband smokes, their son would cover his nose and recite this poem. As the …
I am a public health midwife (PHM) at the Thamankaduwa MOH office in Polonnaruwa. There was one pregnant mother who disliked my visits to the house. This was because of her father-in-law consuming alcohol and being a nuisance to everyone in the family. I was told how he tends to act violently by attacking the family members and talking in filth. One morning, I decided to go to this house regardless of the environment that was explained to me. No …
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