Sri Lanka: Primary Care Clinic Yayawatta

30 Days of Free Healthcare: Q2 2016

October 27, 2016

Stephney Minerva Fernando

Summary of Activities

During the second quarter of 2016, we saw an average of 22 patients per day, treating a total of 653 patients. The clinic was open 10 days each month, from 7:00 am to 11:00 am, 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. This free health clinic is entirely a gift from Real Medicine Foundation, which has a heart to help our communities that suffer from the tsunami’s destruction and from poverty.

This project benefits 2 categories of patients:

  • Community members in Yayawatta, who lost their livelihoods and loved ones in the tsunami
  • Lower income families that live in the villages and communities around Yayawatta
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Results &

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

April 2016

10 Days of Free Care

215 patients, 99 male and 116 female, were treated at the Real Medicine Clinic in April.

  • 25% of the patients were treated for a fever,
  • 25% were treated for back pain,
  • 20% were treated for skin diseases,
  • 20% were treated for hypertension, and
  • 10% were treated for worm infestation.

May 2016

10 Days of Free Care

218 patients, 100 male and 118 female, were treated at the Real Medicine Clinic Yayawatta in May.

  • 25% of the patients were treated for viral gastroenteritis,
  • 25% were treated for hypertension,
  • 15% were treated for rheumatoid arthritis,
  • 15% were treated for ischemic heart disease,
  • 10% were treated for skin diseases, and
  • 10% (especially children) were treated for a viral cough and cold.

June 2016

10 Days of Free Care

220 patients, 102 male and 118 female, were treated at the Real Medicine Clinic in June.

  • 30% of the patients were treated for viral influenza,
  • 20% were treated for hypertension,
  • 15% were treated for arthritis,
  • 15% were treated for ischemic heart disease,
  • 15% were treated for viral gastroenteritis, and
  • 5% were treated for other diseases.
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Background

& Objectives

Background

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.

Objectives

  • 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
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More

Photos

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Real Medicine Foundation - more photos.
Real Medicine Foundation - more photos.
Real Medicine Foundation - more photos.
Real Medicine Foundation - more photos.
Real Medicine Foundation - more photos.
Real Medicine Foundation - more photos.
Real Medicine Foundation - more photos.
Real Medicine Foundation - more photos.
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Numbers

Served

Direct Beneficiaries

A total of 653 patients were treated at the Real Medicine Clinic during this reporting period.

Indirect Beneficiaries

Approximately 4,000 people

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Success

Stories

Mrs. Mala

Mrs. Mala is a 45-year-old woman who lives in Yayawatta. She is a direct beneficiary of the Real Medicine Clinic, and her husband is a fisherman. Mrs. Mala arrived at the Real Medicine Clinic complaining of severe back and joint pain.

We examined Mrs. Mala and gave her analgesics for pain management. Then we decided to also refer her to the Base Hospital in Tangalle. There, the medical worker took an x-ray, which revealed a minor defect in Mrs. Mala’s vertebral column. Mrs. Mala was prescribed medication, and most importantly, she has been advised to rest more.

Yasini

Yasini is a 2-and-a-half-year-old girl from Yayawatta, and a beneficiary of the Real Medicine Clinic. Yasini’s mother brought her to the Real Medicine Clinic with a fever, cough, and cold. When she arrived at the clinic, Yasini had had a fever for 3 days.

When we examined her, we found that the air entry to Yasini’s right lung was very slow. After thorough examination, we referred her to the Base Hospital in Tangalle. Yasini was admitted as an inpatient at Tangalle Hospital. X-rays and many tests revealed that Yasini’s right lung was full of phlegm. She was diagnosed with pneumonia and treated accordingly.