Health care and sanitation are always
one of the major public health challenges for the rural communities in
developing countries like Sri Lanka. In order to combat the rising incidence of
diseases, Sri Lanka will need to enhance existing health infrastructure and
effectively implement prevention programs.
Project “Arogya” organized by Leo club
of University of Colombo for the second consecutive year was initiated with the
intention of focusing on the lack of health facilities and medical resources in
rural areas in Sri Lanka, and to uplift their standard of living.
First we contacted the Venerable thero of the Sri
Bimbarama PuranaViharaya requesting about their state and how we could arrange
this medical camp. In addition Leo Kasturi Rathnayake gave us important
information about this village and the people.
We started this project by sending a request letter
to Regional Director of Health Service, Badulla. We were able to get a huge
support from Development Officers at A.G. Office at Diyathalawa, PHI, doctors
and medical staff in Diyathalawa hospital, Grama-Seva officer, the Police to
inform villagers about the medical camp. Also we went to the municipality to
take canopies.The Buddhist youth society of Haputhalegema informed us that they
will support us to achieve this valuable event.
With the information gathered by the doctors in
Diyathalawa hospital, we selected the most suitable medical checkups and
medical facilities that we should provide in this free medical camp. Selection
was done mainly emphasizing the need to focus on non-communicable diseases. The
free medical camp was organized to implement by conducting,
·
Eye clinic
·
Dental clinic
·
OPD clinic
·
Blood pressure and diabetes checkups
·
Kidney checkups
·
Height and weight calculation
·
Awareness programs
·
Distributing free medicine to patients
On the event day
morning all the groundings were done before the project commenced. Placing the
direction boards, mentioning the clinics, preparation of the registration table
was done.Registration table was arranged to get the number of participants who attended the project. All the villagers who came to the project were registered and they were provided with a form at the registration. The form included the details of the patient name, age, and the clinics they participate, their feedback. Four Leo members were assigned to head the registration table. The forms which were given to the patients were collected at the exit.
For each unit a Leo member was appointed to take records of the patients and the villagers were guided by the club members.
As the initial step of the opening ceremony lightening of the oil lamp was done with the participation of the chief guest and others. The event began by giving pansil by the Venerable thero to all villagers, club members, doctors and nurses and the members of Buddhist youth society of Haputhalegama.
After it Leo Tharindu Sandaruwan addressed the participants by emphasizing the objective of this medical camp. Additionally Leo NawodaShasika also addressed the audience and we distributed leaflets and a book about several diseases and important health tricks.
At the end of the opening ceremonya wheelchair was donated with the involvement of the Buddhist Youth Society.
Core activity of the project was to conduct the medical camp that was scheduled to execute with eye clinic, dental clinic, OPD clinic, blood pressure and diabetes checkups, kidney checkups, height and weight calculation, awareness programs, and distribution of medicine to the patients.
Our registration table recorded that over 750 villagers have participated to the medical camp. Medical staff including 24 members have given their contribution in implementing the“Arogya’17” project.
1. Eye clinic
As a part of our community project we organized a free eye checkup in the medical camp. Patients were treated from required treatments and medical advices by the oculist. About 200 participants were treated from the eye clinic.
Also on 19th of November we arranged an eye lenses donation for the villagers as a part of the project.
A dental checkup was executed to encourage maintenance ofproper oral health of both children and adults as most of the villagers suffered from dental problems due to lack of good health habits. This clinic was supportive to detect dental problems that were left untreated, and unnoticed by patients and to give necessary treatments.Around 100 patients benefited from this clinic.
3. OPD clinic
OPD was one of the most valuable clinics to patients to be examined and to get treatment as an outpatient before being admitted to the hospital at a later date as an inpatient.
OPD clinic provided patients with medical consultations and other allied services including exanimating the patients for any disease condition, diagnosing, providing medication to the patients. OPD clinic which was in the medical camp was done with the participation of about 550 patients.
4. Blood pressure and diabetes checkups
As a measure of ensuring the importance of making people aware about their level of blood pressure and sugar level, this clinic was carried out aiming to provide citizens with medicine and awareness. Over 400 villagers participated for this clinic.
5. Kidney checkups
It is observed that people in Sri
Lanka irrespective of the age have kidney disease and most don’t know about it
because early kidney disease can occur with no signs or symptoms. Kidney
disease is a main health issue that threats human life. Therefore we arranged a
separate clinic for kidney checkups with the intention of raising awareness on
the prevention and timely diagnosis of kidney ailments. About 150 villagers
benefited from this.
6. Height and weight calculationChecking height and weight and
calculating BMI to determine whether person is within a normal weight range for
the height. Almost everyone participated to check their height and weight.
7. Awareness programs
Health is
important for all of us. Creating health awareness along with healthy habits
can help people to take proper prevention against any health problem. Therefore,
we the Leo club of University of Colombo has aimed to spread awareness about
several disease prevention methods, helping the citizens to diagnose the
symptoms as early as possible so that diseases can be reduced in early stages,
prevent health risk and controlled in poor rural communities.
The awareness
program was done highlighting the following areas,
Ø Dengue
Ø Diabetics
Ø Good health habits
8.Distribution of leaflets and booklets
In order to give more awareness a leaflet designed by our Leo club, including good health habits and nutritious foods was distributed among the participants. Booklets about diagnosing health problems, how to maintain healthy life style, about dengue was also distributed among the patients.
Giving free medicine to the patients and donation of
medicine
There was a
separate unit to issue free medicine to the patients as prescribed by the doctors. All the patients were given free medicine by the camp. At the end of the
medical project Leo club of University of Colombo donated medicine to the
Diyathalawa hospital for the usage of the villagers.
·
Providing refreshments to the participants
Refreshments
were provided to the participants with the contribution of Buddhists Youth Society.
At the end of the program we were privileged
to get blessings by the Venerable thero. Buddhist youth
society of the temple arranged a vote of thanks and shared
their true feelings about the project. A vote of thanks was given to our
project chairman for the contribution they done for the success of this event.
The Free Medical Camp was really a great
success to everyone who were connected with us as a team in all the possible
ways. We, Leo club of University of Colombo are thankful to all the volunteers
including doctors and the medical staff and everyone who took out their precious
time to contribute to the success of this project.
Arogya’17 was completed magnificently with
the participation of more than 750 people who came forward to benefit from this
Free Medical Camp. Regular free medicine to patients were also provided at the
camp. We really appreciate time and effort of every single person who contributed
to us.
The event was concluded, and we left
Bandarawela around 6.30pm.
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