Sri Lanka: Primary Care Clinic Yayawatta

Free Clinic, Huge Impact: Q1 2016

May 17, 2016

Stephney Minerva Fernando

Summary of Activities

During the first quarter of 2016, we saw an average of 22 patients per day, treating a total of 654 patients.

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. The project goal is to provide medical care to tsunami-affected families and the less privileged to help build a healthy community.

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.

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Results &

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

January 2016

10 DAYS OF FREE CARE

220 patients, 106 male and 114 female, were treated at Real Medicine Clinic in January.

  • 25% of the patients were treated for a fever and respiratory tract infection,
  • 25% were treated for joint pain,
  • 20% were surgical cases,
  • 10% of the patients were treated for ischemic heart disease,
  • 10% were treated for skin diseases, and
  • 10% were treated for hypertension.

February 2016

10 DAYS OF FREE CARE

216 patients, 99 male and 117 female, were treated at the Real Medicine Clinic Yayawatta in February.

  • 35% of the patients were treated for viral fever,
  • 20% were treated for rheumatoid arthritis,
  • 15% were treated for ischemic heart disease,
  • 15% were treated for hypertension,
  • 10% (especially children) were treated for worm infestation, and
  • 5% were treated for skin diseases

March 2016

10 DAYS OF FREE CARE

218 patients were treated at Real Medicine Clinic in March.

  • 25% of the patients were treated for viral fever,
  • 15% were treated for osteoarthritis,
  • 15% were treated for gastritis,
  • 15% were treated for ischemic heart disease,
  • 15% were treated for hypertension, and
  • 15% were treated for skin 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 654 patients were treated at the Real Medicine Clinic during this reporting period.

Indirect Beneficiaries

Approximately 4,000 people.

Geographic Coverage

This project benefits 2 categories of patients:

  1. Community members in Yayawatta, who lost their livelihoods and loved ones in the tsunami
  2. Lower income families that live in the villages and communities surrounding Yayawatta
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Success

Stories

Mr. Chandrasiri

Mr. Chandrasiri

Age: 62

Mr. Chandrasiri is a 62-year-old man, and the father of one of Real Medicine Clinic’s direct beneficiaries. His daughter lives in Yayawatta. Mr. Chandrasiri came to the Real Medicine Clinic with a very high fever, a cough, and a severe cold.

When he arrived at our clinic, Mr. Chandrasiri looked very ill and was complaining of chest pain. We examined him thoroughly and found that there was less air entry in the right side of his chest. We discussed the seriousness of his condition with his daughter and referred Mr. Chandrasiri to the Base Hospital in Tangalle.

X-rays clearly showed that Mr. Chandrasiri’s right lung was most affected, and medical consultants at the hospital diagnosed him with pneumonia. Mr. Chandrasiri has been admitted to the hospital, where he is undergoing treatment and is recovering.