Sri Lanka: Primary Care Clinic Yayawatta

Yayawatta Clinic Q3 2014 Progress Report

March 06, 2015

Stephney Minerva Fernando

Sri Lanka Initiative Reports

Project Goal:
Provide medical care to Tsunami affected families and the less privileged to help build a healthy community.

Project Objectives:

Support the community with free high quality healthcare services
Help to create a healthy community, especially amongst the younger generation

Summary of RMF-sponsored activities carried out during the reporting period under project objective:
The clinic was opened 10 days per month to provide free healthcare services to the community of Yayawatta at Seenimodara in Tangalle, Sri Lanka, and its surrounding villages and communities of Palapotha, Kadurupokuna & Seenimodara.

Results and/or accomplishments achieved during this reporting period:
The clinic was open for 10 days each month during the third Quarter of 2014; we saw an average of 21 patients per day with a total of 629 patients treated.

In the month of July, 208 patients were treated, 95 males and 113 females
In the month of August, 210 patients were treated, 98 males and 112 females.
In the month September, 211 patients were treated, 98 males and 113 females.

Success Stories

Mrs. Piyaseeli is 26 years old and a direct beneficiary of the Real Medicine Clinic. She had come to the clinic, complaining of pain in her left breast. Upon examination RMF’s doctor found something unusual and referred her to the Tangalle Base Hospital for further investigations.

From the investigations, it was revealed that there was a lump, and it needed to be removed as soon as possible. The Senior Surgeon completed surgery at once, removed the lump and sent a biopsy for examination to Colombo to get a clear opinion whether this lump was malign or not.

Mrs. Sumana comes to our clinic frequently for treatment of her joint pains. When she came this time, she suffered from severe pain and swelling of the joints. With the clinical tests and examinations, a diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis was confirmed. The RMF doctor then referred her to the Rheuma Clinic at Matara Base Hospital where she is now undergoing treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Photos:

photo: Everything is ready to start the Clinic

photo: The Clinic Staff — Mrs. Lasanthie, the Clinic Assistant; Mrs. Dimuthu, Assistant to the Medical Consultant; Dr. Chamal, the Medical Consultant

photo: The two sisters who work hard at the Clinic

photo: Mrs. Lasanthie helps an elderly lady complete a form

photo: Mothers with their children

photo: Clinic Day

photo: Madumekala, beneficiary of LTMS

photo: Waiting Room

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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