Sri Lanka: Primary Care Clinic Yayawatta

Continued Free Care in and around Tangalle: Q3 2016

January 12, 2017

Stephney Minerva Fernando

Summary of Activities

During the third quarter of 2016, we saw an average of 21.1 patients per day, treating a total of 632 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

Real Medicine Clinic keeps the required medications in stock.

JULY 2016

10 Days of Free Care

221 patients, 106 male and 115 female, were treated at the Real Medicine Clinic in July.

  • 50% of the patients were treated for viral fever,
  • 25% were treated for joint pain,
  • 10% were treated for ischemic heart disease,
  • 10% were treated for skin diseases, and
  • 5% were treated for hypertension.
    There were 140 direct beneficiaries, and the most common illness was viral fever.
    41 indirect beneficiaries were treated for viral fever. Direct and indirect beneficiaries received treatment for 5 types of diseases, and a total of 81 patients were indirect beneficiaries.
Dr. Chamal’s assistant, Dimuthu, dresses the young woman’s wound

AUGUST 2016

10 Days of Free Care

203 patients, 92 male and 111 female, were treated at the Real Medicine Clinic in August.

  • 50% of the patients were treated for fever and joint pain,
  • 25% were treated for flu-like symptoms,
  • 10% were treated for hypertension,
  • 5% were treated for ischemic heart disease,
  • 5% were treated for skin diseases, and
  • 5% were treated for viral gastroenteritis.
    The number of direct beneficiaries was 134. The number of the indirect beneficiaries was 69, and they came from Palapotha, Kadurupokuna, and Seenimodera to obtain treatment at the Real Medicine Clinic.
    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.

SEPTEMBER 2016

10 Days of Free Care

208 patients, 95 male and 113 female, were treated at the Real Medicine Clinic in September.

  • 25% of the patients were treated for viral fever,
  • 20% were treated for arthritis,
  • 20% were treated for dermatitis,
  • 15% were treated for gastrointestinal disorders,
  • 10% were treated for hypertension, and
  • 10% were treated for ischemic heart disease.
    There were 141 direct beneficiaries from Yayawatta who received treatment, and 67 indirect beneficiaries obtained medication. Direct and indirect beneficiaries were treated for 6 types of diseases.
    17 of the indirect beneficiaries were treated for viral fever. They came from Palapotha, Kadurupokuna, and Seenimodera. A total of 68 patients came to the Real Medicine Clinic from these surrounding villages.
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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

Click to enlarge

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.
Real Medicine Foundation - more photos.
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Numbers

Served

During the third quarter of 2016, we saw an average of 21.1 patients per day, treating a total of 632 patients.