University Community Health Project – Kotte
Background
The University Community Health Project is one of the 283 Health Units in Sri Lanka. Since 1952, the Department of Community Medicine, Colombo, has been responsible for the field level health services for the people of Ethul Kotte and Pita Kotte. On 1st February 1974, the University Community Health Project (UCHP) was established with the addition of two more areas, viz. Maharagama and Udahamulla. Since then, this project area has functioned as a separate health unit.
Objectives
Main objectives of this project was to provide a comprehensive health care to the population of the area in keeping with the national health policies, act as a the centre of teaching and training of Community Medicine for medical undergraduates, post graduates and para-medical personnel, giving emphasis to the multi disciplinary approach, use this as an ‘Experimental Area’ where research into new methods of administration, management, provision of healthcare, epidemiological and intervention research can be undertaken and to act as a ‘Field Laboratory’ for all departments of the Faculty of Medicine in Colombo and the Department of Health Services.
Area
Kotte area was selected for this as it is close to the Faculty of Medicine, Colombo, the office of the Medical Officer of Health (MOH) being situated at Pita Kotte, approximately six kilometres away and due to the availability of satisfactory transport and communication facilities.
Selected area is approximately five square meters in extent including Ethul kotte, Pita Kotte, Mirihana and Udahamulla. Ethul Kotte and Pita Kotte are electoral wards of the Sri Jayawardanapura- Kotte Municipal Council which have an urban environment, and the areas Mirihana , Thalapathpitiya, Madiwela and Udahamulla are presently within the pradesiya Sabawa, Maharagama which have a semi urban environment. The estimated mid year population in the project area for the year of 2005 as provided by the DPDHS, Colombo, is 63810 and the population recorded by the PHMs in the area is 64810.
Facilities available
This area is situated in such a way, where several major hospitals with all speciality services can be easily reachable including, National Hospital of Sri Lanka, Colombo South Teaching Hospital, De Soysa and Caslte street Maternity Hospitals, Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital, Sri Jayawardanapura Hospital and the Ayurvedis Hospital. There are ten registered General Practitioners in the area and a Dispensary at Angampitiya conducted by the Sri Jayawardanapura Municipal Council.
Other identified community resources in the area are ‘Sevana’ home for physically handicapped children at Pita Kotte, Children’s home for the mentally handicapped at Madiwela, ‘Vajira’ children’s home at Pagoda Road, ‘Dayamina’ day care centre for mentally handicapped, ‘St Anne’s’ day care centre at Epitamulla, ‘Sanhinda’ Elder’s home at Mirihana and ‘St. Vincent De Paul’ friendship home for elders at Madiwela.
Administration and Staff
The professor of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Colombo, serves as the Chief Medical Officer of Health of the area, on an honorary basis. The Medical Officer/s of Health are officials of the Department of Health Services and are responsible to the Director General of Health Services through the Provincial Director of Health Services (Western Province) and the Deputy Provincial Director of Health Serves, Colombo for carrying out the community health services in the area.
The members comprising the health team includes two Medical Officers of Health, attached to the Department of Health Services, academic staff of the Department of Community Medicine, four Public Health Inspectors, one Public Health Nursing Sister, one Supervising Public Health Midwife, one Instructor in social work attached to the Department of Community Medicine, two Medical Laboratory Technologists attached to the Department of Community Medicine, two Medical Laboratory Attendants attached to the Department of Community Medicine, one Dental Surgeon, Dental Nurse, two assistants, one Entomological Assistant and two labourers, one Clerk appointed by the Department of Health Services, ten PHMs (one appointed by the Kotte MC and nine appointed by the Department of Health Services) and one Programme Assistant appointed by the Department of Health Services.
Resources
MOH office and the Pita Kotte Health Care Centre is situated in a building at Baddegama Road, Pita Kotte.
There are other heath care centres conducted at Mirihana, Madiwela and Thalapathpitiya.
A jeep has been made available to the Kotte UHCP area by the Ministry of Health, Western Province for transport.
All funding for drugs, stationary and equipment is obtained from the Ministry of Health.
Services provided
Main services provided are the maternal health services provided at ante- natal clinics, family planning services, child welfare services, distribution of Thriposha, conducting well women clinics, school health services including dental health, immunization, conducting dental clinics, control of communicable diseases, improving environmental sanitation, provision of recommendations for licensing trades and social work.
Other than these, training programmes for medical undergraduates and postgraduates are also carried out.
Assessing & Monitoring
Monthly conferences were held at the Pita Kotte Health Centre, attended by the field health staff and the staff of the Department of Community Medicine and were chaired by the MOH.
Random field surveys have been carried out in the Community Health Project area since 1992 and have proved to be a useful method for monitoring and evaluating the field health services. These are carried out once a month prior to the monthly conference.
Opportunities
Opportunities available to elective students to gain experience in the provision of primary health care to the community. Research opportunities are also available through the guidance of the department of Community Medicine.
