Sri Lanka: Primary Care Clinic Yayawatta

Clinic Treats 643 Patients: Q2 2017

September 01, 2017

Stephney Minerva Fernando

Sri Lanka Initiative Reports

These young boys enjoy visiting the clinic.

Program Update

RMF’s Presence

The clinic was open 10 days each month to provide free healthcare services to the community of Yayawatta and Seenimodera in Tangalle, Sri Lanka, and the surrounding villages and communities of Palapotha, Kadurupokuna, and Seenimodera.

During the second quarter of 2017, we saw an average of 21.4 patients per day, treating a total of 643 patients.

April 2017

205 patients, 82 male and 123 female, were treated at the Real Medicine Clinic in April.

50% of the patients were treated for viral fever
20% were treated for joint pain
10% were treated for gastritis
10% were treated for hypertension
10% were treated for worm infestation.

May 2017

211 patients, 100 male and 111 female, were treated at the Real Medicine Clinic in May.

25% of the patients were treated for viral fever
25% of the patients were treated for arthritis
20% were treated for flu-like symptoms
10% were treated for hypertension
10% were treated for skin diseases
5% were treated for ischemic heart disease
5% were treated for worm infestation.

June 2017

213 patients, 97 male and 116 female, were treated at the Real Medicine Clinic in June.

30% of the patients were treated for viral fever
20% were treated for arthritis
20% were treated for ischemic heart disease
10% were treated for gastritis
10% were treated for hypertension
10% were treated for skin diseases.

A patient, Sharmila, visits the clinic.

K.H. Sharmila

22 Years Old

K.H. Sharmila is a 22-year-old direct beneficiary of Real Medicine Clinic living at Yayawatta. Sharmila is disabled, and her mother has to do everything for her. She visited the clinic with her mother complaining of a severe burning sensation and pain in her esophagus.

It was decided that the best thing to do was to refer Sharmila to the Tangalle Hospital, especially as she was demonstrating some unusual behaviors. I gave a reference letter to her mother and asked her to admit Sharmila to the hospital. The medical consultants in the hospital diagnosed Sharmila with acute gastritis.

In June, K.H. Sharmila had another severe attack of gastritis and was again admitted to Tangalle Hospital.

Direct beneficiary Mrs. K.H. Heen Nona visits the clinic

Mrs. K.H. Heen Nona

86 Years Old

Mrs. K.H. Heen Nona is an 86-year-old direct beneficiary of Real Medicine Clinic living at No. 50 in Yayawatta. Mrs. Heen Nona visits the clinic frequently with her daughter. She has a large family, with 3 sons and 4 daughters. Her husband was a fisherman, but he passed away 5 years ago. She helps her daughter make coir ropes.

Mrs. Heen Nona came to the clinic with a backache. She has an overall general weakness of the body, especially in her neck. She is healthy, so I gave her some tablets with a vitamin syrup (becadex) to decrease her pain. I also prescribed a tube of Jonac Gel to rub on the skin to ease her joint pain.

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Support the community with free, high quality healthcare services
Approximately 94 tsunami-affected families and the surrounding communities in 4 villages: a population of 4,000.
Help to create a healthy community, especially amongst the younger generation

After completing Real Medicine’s immediate tsunami relief efforts at the Mawella Camp Clinic, a second clinic was opened in Yayawatta in October 2006. The clinic is open for 10 days each month to provide free healthcare services to the community of Yayawatta and Seenimodera in Tangalle, Sri Lanka, and the surrounding villages and communities of Palapotha, Kadurupokuna, and Seenimodera. With no resources to hire private transportation and no access to public transport, the clinic provides the only locally based medical care within the community, easily accessible and within walking distance of most villages and beneficiaries. To expand our reach to the surrounding communities, our primary health care clinic staff conducts off-site clinics at local schools and community centers to provide poor rural children with free checks-ups, and medicines.