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A Time for Action Transforming Lives and Building Healthier Communities

11th Annual IMHO Convention Saturday, May 3rd, 2014 Orange County, California

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th 11 Annual Convention Agenda……………………………………………………………………….………..3 Welcome Note from the IMHO Family………………………...…..………………………………..……..4 “The Year in Review: Empowering Communities in Sri Lanka through Health, Livelihoods, and Other Development Efforts” by The IMHO Team………..………….…….…..5 “5 Years of Achievement at the Jaffna Diabetic Center” by Dr. (Mrs.) Vathulan Sujanitha……………………………………………………………………………………………………..…….…..7 “Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way: “Kuruntham” Regional Alcohol Rehabilitation Unit (RARC)” by Dr. S. Sivayokan..……………………………………………..….….9 “Renovation of the Maternity Ward of Divisional Hospital, Atchuvely” by G. Krishnakumar……………………………………………………………………………….…………………..11 “A Continued Commitment to Amputees and those with Disabilities in Sri Lanka”

by Dr. (Mrs.) J. Ganeshamoorthy…………………………………………………………….……..………12 “Giving a Healthy Start to Babies at the New Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital” by Dr. N. Srisaravanapavananthan ………………………..13 “Karainagar Abiviruthti Sabai (Students’) Library” by Siva T. Mageson…………..………....16 “Oral Health and Hygiene Program in Sri Lanka” by Drs. Tharani Rajendra and T. Sathiyamoorthy………………………………………………………………………………………..…..…..17 “Base Hospital Tellipalai: A Renovated Hospital in a Resettlement Area of Jaffna”

by Dr. M. S. Umashankar.…………………………………………………………………..………………….19 “Science Navigators: Museum of Natural History and Science” by Dr. K. Arulnithy……..21 “A Stitch in Time Saves Nine: How the Actions of the IMHO Spared the Collapse of Maternity Services in Kilinochchi, Sri Lanka” by Dr. N. Srisaravanapavananthan.....22 “Stroke Rehabilitation Unit in Jaffna Appeal” by Dr. Ajini Arasalingam…..……….…..……23 Malarum Mangaiar Marutham Letter…………….………………………………………………………...25 “Ozanam Center for People with Special Needs” by Ozanam Team……………………………..26

“Mavadivembu Mental Health Rehabilitation Center” by Dr. Judy Jeyakumar…….....….28

“Mental Health Services at Base Hospital, Valaichchenai” by Dr. Judy Jeyakumar…..….31 “Healing the Scars” by IMHO Lanka…………………………………………………………..……………34 “Report on Iyankankulam School” by Iyankankulam School Committee………………..……37 “Volunteer Testimonial: Help in Time of Need” by S. Iruthayaraja…..……….……………….38 “Malavi Central Girl’s College Hostel” by Malavi College…….………….…………………………39 “Restoring Mobility and Hope to Paraplegics” by The IMHO Team…………………..………..41

“No Matter How Hard the Past, You Can Always Begin Again” by IMHO Beneficiary…..42

“Uttarakhand Flooding: Emergency Relief Report” by Mr. M. S. Abdaheer…………...…...44 “Giving a Voice to Marginalized Deaf Youth in Ethiopia” by Mr. Gregory Buie & Dr. Elizabeth Finigan……………………………………………………………………………………………..46 Program Sponsors………..………………………………………………………………………………………...48 !

What’s Inside

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IMHO 11th Annual Convention Agenda: Orange County, CA Saturday, May 3rd, 2014

3:30 PM

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5:00 PM

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5:20 PM

5:45 PM

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10:30 PM

Evening Registration, Refreshments, and Social Mixer Welcome Address by Dr. S. Raguraj, IMHO International Board President Dance Performance: “Ganesha Slokam” followed by “Alaripu” presented by Ms. Tharini Shanmugarajah, Kalapeetham Dance Company Welcome and Update Presentation by Anpuneri and Noolaham Dance Performance: “Ananda Nadamidum Padan” presented by Ms. Tharini Shanmugarajah, Kalapeetham Dance Company Special Guest Address by Mr. Aravinthan Wijay Chief Guest Address by Dr. Harry Leibowitz, Founder/Co-Chair, World of Children Award Dance Performance: “Aikya” presented by The Arpana Dance Company Keynote Address by Dr. Judy Jeyakumar, Psychiatrist, Mental Health Unit, Kalmunai Base Hospital (Sri Lanka) “IMHO Year in Review and the Way Forward”: Presentation by Ms. Vidhya Magendran, IMHO Canada Board of Directors “Post Graduate Education at Jaffna University”: Presentation by Dr. Sujanthy Rajaram, IMHO Board of Directors Air Ticket Auction Dinner Musical Concert with Saiesan Muthulingam, Pragathi Guruprasad, and Anush Shandilya Closing

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International Medical Health Organization (IMHO) !

955!Proprietors!Road,!Ste!B,!Worthington,!OH!43085!

Tel:!(614)!659C9922!!!Fax:!(614)!659C9933!

Email:!contact@theimho.org!

Dear Friends, International President

S. Raguraj, MD

(Maryland) On behalf of our entire IMHO family, we would like to take a moment

to reflect on how far we have come together over the past year and to International Secretary express our deep gratitude to you for your thoughtful support of our Thavam Thambipillai, MD (South Dakota) mission and efforts on behalf of those in need.

IMHO USA: As you are aware, IMHO responds in times of crises and works to

President strengthen health systems in under- served communities. Our efforts Kanaga N. Sena, MD

over the past decade have resulted in the channeling of over $3.5M in (Connecticut)

financial and material support to dozens of local partner organizations Vice President and institutions, the vast majority of which has benefited communities

Rajam Theventhiran, MD deeply affected by chronic poverty, war, natural disaster, and other (New York)

hardship across Sri Lanka. One such recent achievement has been the

Secretary support IMHO has offered to dozens of paraplegics through a threeS. Nanthakumar, PhD

wheeler livelihoods development project. As one beneficiary noted, “I (Texas)

feel like I got more than just my legs back, I got my life back.” IMHO Treasurer has also been at the forefront of raising awareness and improving care Murali Ramalingam, CPA (Ohio) in the fields of mental health and chronic diseases like diabetes and

heart disease, and is even spearheading a new initiative to develop a Directors

N. Nanthakumar, PhD Center for Neuro-Developmental Disorders, such as autism. In recent

(Massachusetts) months, the number of requests coming from trusted local caregivers

and nonprofit partner organizations in Sri Lanka has grown steadily.

Legal Counsel

Ahilan Arulanantham, JD We need your support now more than ever...

(California)

Aside from our work in Sri Lanka, IMHO has also supported efforts in Advisory Council

K. Devacaanthan, MD 14 other countries to-date, including ongoing projects in Haiti and

International*Medical*Health*Organization*(Canada)* (Florida) Ethiopia. IMHO also responded immediately to the Typhoon Haiyan

disaster currently afflicting the Philippines by making contributions of K. Sivakumaran, MD A"non%political,"non%profit,"humanitarian"organization"

(Florida) $2,500/each to the emergency relief efforts of both Direct Relief "

International and Mano-a-Mano Medical & Surgical Salvage, and A"registered"charitable"organization"in"Canada"(Reg"#:"84419%1494%RR0001)" Elizabeth Finigan, MD contributed to the relief efforts in Uttarakhand, India after severe

(New York) monsoon flooding devastated the region. Wherever there is need, !

IMHO has always been willing to lend a helping hand. And with a vast

IMHO CANADA: network of local partners on whom we can rely, we can be sure that

President aid and assistance is getting through efficiently and effectively. We Lambotharan Ramanathan, MD

also believe in providing a holistic set of services and support to help pull marginalized and struggling communities out of poverty to ensure

Secretary that all people have the ability to lead a healthy and productive life.

Thavam Thambipillai, MD

The power to positively impact the life of another and perhaps even Treasurer

save a life, lies with you. Our work is only possible through your Vidhya Magendran

generous contributions. As we keep pushing forward, please consider Directors

making a donation to IMHO today to help create a new beginning for Yalnee Shantharam others in need. Together we are making a difference.

Karthika Devarajan, MD

Warm Regards,

The IMHO Family of Organizations Programs Coordinator

Gregory Buie, MA

IMHO%USA%is%a%registered%tax2exempt,%501(c)3%non2profit,%charitable%organization%in%the%United%States%(Federal%Tax%ID%#:%5923779465).%% IMHO%is%a%registered%Private%Voluntary%Organization%(PVO)%with%the%United%States%Agency%for%International%Development%(USAID)%% and%a%proud%member%of%InterAction.%IMHO%Canada%is%a%registered%charitable%organization%in%Canada%(Registration%#844191494RR0001).%

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www.TheIMHO.org * www.IMHOCanada.org * www.IMHOEU.org * www.IMHOLanka.org

The Year in Review: Empowering Communities in Sri Lanka Through Health, Livelihoods, and Other Development Efforts

By: The IMHO Team

For the past 11 years, the International Medical Health Organization (IMHO) has been serving communities in need globally. Most of IMHO’s development activities, however, have focused on

strengthening and developing health care systems in Sri Lanka that promote healthy, productive, and empowered communities. To-date, more than $3.5M has been invested in development projects, benefitting tens of thousands of lives. Yet, there is still so much to be done.

Much has been accomplished over the past year. We have been inspired by the stories of resilience and hope of so many…the paraplegic individuals who received a specially equipped trishaw from IMHO and are now leading self-sufficient lives; the selfless and tireless actions of local physicians and health authorities who consistently go above and beyond in serving their patients and communities; the many families who have endured great hardship and are now rebuilding their lives through livelihoods support and vocational training programs. These are just a few examples

of the many people who make everything worthwhile. None of this, of course, would have been

possible without the thoughtful consideration, compassion, and generosity of individuals across North America and elsewhere who have enabled our work. Thank you for choosing to be a part of the solution and investing in those who need our continued support.

More than 2 years ago, a major undertaking was initiated in partnership with local physicians to

establish a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital. With the advancement of medical sciences in much of the world, Northern and Eastern Sri Lanka continue to lag behind. In support of committed local leaders and visionaries seeking to bridge these gaps, IMHO committed itself to the establishment of this new facility. Lack of space, proper facilities, equipment, and trained doctors & nurses were all problems putting a strain on the available care

for premature babies and their mothers. With IMHO's support the facility was renovated and developed, equipment was procured, and the required personnel were retained. This new center, which will help provide life-saving support to premature babies, was officially opened at a ceremony in January.

Over the past several years, IMHO has also supported the economic rehabilitation of hundreds of individuals and their families throughout Sri Lanka, particularly the resettled and war-affected communities where livelihoods, infrastructure, and daily routines were severely disrupted. As a continuation of this effort, 54 new beneficiaries from Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaithivu, and Vavuniya received livelihoods support in January at a ceremony at the Rural Development Society building in Anandanagar, Kilinochchi. These recipients are clustered into small groups, each with

a team leader, and receive monthly training and assistance from the local partners implementing this project. Efforts like these have not only pulled people out of extreme poverty, they have positive impacts on the beneficiaries' health, mental health and overall sense of well being.

Another major undertaking has been extending life-altering support for 30 paraplegics and their

families in Vanni, Northern Sri Lanka through providing specially equipped three-wheelers with hand control modifications. These efforts have benefited spinally-injured paraplegics who have been rehabilitated through the hard work and dedication of local partners, physicians, and rehabilitation experts. All of the beneficiaries were in a desperate socio-economic status at the outset, being excluded from holding a job and participating in many daily activities on account of

their lack of mobility, poor infrastructure, stigma, and more. An initial batch of 18 received their vehicles last year, and the second batch of 12 paraplegics received theirs earlier this month. This support both enables individuals to earn an income and become self-sufficient, while also providing a renewed sense of dignity and purpose to their lives. As one beneficiary noted, "I feel

like I got more than just my legs back...I got my life back." Since undertaking this initiative,

many more paraplegics have emerged as the success of this project has become more well known.

The list of persons in need has grown to more than 100. While it may not be possible to reach them all, IMHO has so far impacted the lives of 30 such individuals and their families. And with your help, we hope to do more...

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Aside from the above activities, we have made incredible progress in the past few months. The following are just a few of the highlights:

devices,!livelihoods!support,!and!more.!With!an!

estimated!

20,000+! amputees! and! disabled! *A new entertainment park for patients at the Mental Health Rehabilitation Center in

Mavaddivembu, Batticaloa, Eastern Sri Lanka was officially opened at a celebratory event persons!in!the!Northeast!of!Sri!Lanka,!the!needs!

on January 12th.

This is just another example of IMHO's commitment to developing are! massive.!

Many! continue! to! suffer! from!

mental health infrastructure in Sri Lanka. Nearly 200 people, including staff, clients and physical!and!mental!trauma,!lack!of!occupation,!

their families, and community members attended the festivities. Also, at the event, the discomfort,! and! of! mobility,! all! of!mental which!health magazine by the Regional Directorate of first lack! publication of a quarterly

must! be! addressed! urgently.!

IMHO! has! taken!

Health Services named "Nanal" was released. strides! to! provide! services! and! support! in! all! of!

*Earlier this year (2014), and socks were distributed to 326 children (179 girls and these! areas! and! is! expanding! our! shoes partnership!

147 boys) at the Mahadeva Achchirama Children's Home in Kilinochchi, Northern Sri with! the! Jaffna! Jaipur! Centre! for! Disability!

Lanka thanks to support from IMHO.

Rehabilitation!(JJCDR)!in!particular!as!we!move!

forward.! On!*Additional October! livelihoods 30th,! JJCDR! officially! support was provided for chronic mentally ill patients from the St.

Benedict Menni residential rehabilitation unveiled! 2! new! books,!

Stump!

Care! for!

Below; center in Batticaloa.

Knee!Amputees!and!Stump!Care!for!Above;Knee!Amputees,!at!a!function!at!their!office!in!Jaffna,!Sri! The! Chief! *A grant was to purchase equipment and hardware at theSurgeon!

Cardiacat! the!

Lanka.!

Guest! of!given the! event! was! Dr.!additional K.! Umapathy,!

Consultant!

Orthopaedic!

Catheterization Lab at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital.

Teaching!Hospital!Jaffna.!The!printing!of!these!books!was!sponsored!by!IMHO.!

! *Ongoing care for thousands of people through mobile clinics in Sandilipay.

! Building!the!Capacity!of!Mental!Health!Services!in!Batticaloa! *Support for elderly patients at the Grace Care Center Senior Home in Trincomalee was ! provided to help pay for medications and doctor visits. !

Looking to the future, we have many IMHO!remains!at!the!forefront!of!promoting!mental!health!care!throughout!Sri!Lanka!and!inspiring! amongst! change! projects linedcommunity! up already, aspartners! well as and! service! providers.! In! August,! IMHO! sponsored! a! staff! many ongoingtraining! efforts. Inprogram! particular, capacity;building! in! Batticaloa,! Eastern! Sri! Lanka! in! which! 13! psychiatric! social!

we are reaching out for your support workers!and!5!therapists!attached!to!the!Kalmunai!Base!Hospital!Rehabilitation!Unit,!2!staff!attached!

bring two projects to fruition: to! the!to Palamunai! Rehabilitation! Unit,! and! 1! staff! attached! to! the! St.! Benedict! Brothers! of! Charity!

Rehabilitation!

Center! gained! important! training! and! skills! development.! Later,!14! motorbikes! were!

1. A bus to transport handed! to! patients regional! from over! cancer health! officials! to!

Jaffna tosupport!

Tellipalai for psychiatric! social! workers! treatment services

and! staff!(estimated with! improved! cost – $50,000) transportation! for! the!

scanners benefit! 2. of!Ultrasound mental! health!

for obstetric in patients! there.! With! patients a!

Vanni and Jaffna handful! of! ambitious! and!

(estimated cost – $25,000) deeply! committed! local!

partners,! all! projects of! these!

These two represent our current most crucial needs, but there are dozens of other

interventions! are! going! a! or in the works. initiatives that are ongoing

long!way!in!promoting!improved!mental!health!care!and!development!of!mental!health!care!delivery!

Together we are making a difference. Will you join us in our mission to improve the lives of others? systems!throughout!Sri!Lanka.!

!

Be the Difference. Inspire Change. Make a Contribution Today.

Your! generous! contributions! make! our! work! possible!! Will! you! help! support! us! in! our! to! create! healthier! and! more! productive! societies! globally! by! making! a! donation! mission!

today?!You!can!make!a!single!or!recurring!donation!online!at!www.TheIMHO.org!or!simply!

send!a!check!made!out!to!“IMHO”!to!the!following!address.!If!you!prefer!your!donation!to!go!

towards!a!specific!project,!please!make!a!note!of!it!in!the!subject!line.!All!donations!are!tax;

deductible!(tax!ID#59;3779465)!and!a!tax!receipt!will!be!promptly!issued.! !

IMHO"Treasurer" 6 955"Proprietors"Road,"Suite"B" Worthington,"Ohio"43085"

Five Years of Achievement at the Jaffna Diabetic Center

By: Dr. (Mrs.) Vathulan Sujanitha, Consultant Physician, Teaching Hospital, Jaffna & Visiting Lecturer in Medicine & Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jaffna

Diabetic Center at the Teaching Hospital, Jaffna is now operating in its 5th successful year in service The to the people of the Northern Province in Sri Lanka. The continuous support of IMHO to the Diabetic Center is beyond words. The local people and our administration appreciate your service work

tremendously and extend a big thank to IMHO and all who have made our work possible.

As of January 2014, the total number of registered diabetic patients stands at 9,551. Out of this number, 1,122 patients were newly registered last year (2013). All these patients benefit from annual follow up, including health education, retinal imaging, screening for micro- and macro- vascular complications of

diabetes mellitus, and referrals for specialty units – all of which are done regularly as part of the main

activities of the Diabetic Center.

I would like to mention some of the noteworthy achievements of the Jaffna Diabetic Center in the year

2013 & 1st quarter of 2014:

1. Distribution and planting of 7,500 Jambu plants to Hospitals, Schools and other public places was done on September 30, 2013.

2. Launched the Jaffna Diabetic Center website (www.jaffnadiabeticcenter.org) on November 15,

2013 as a major public awareness programme. It continuously updates the general public on

prevailing current issues and helps the general public to communicate with the Diabetic Center.

3. Three important research projects related to diabetes were started (and data collection completed) in 2013. The data will be analyzed and results will be published in reputed journals in

the near future.

4. A cultural programme was held in Nallur, Jaffna on August 10, 2013 to raise funds for Jambu tree

planting efforts.

5.

A screening programme for non-communicable disease was conducted at Kopay Training College

January 16, 2013.

6. on 53 new series of articles and discussions were published in “Uthayan”, a daily newspaper in Jaffna

in 2013. This plays a major role in educating the public on non-communicable disease and other disease that are commonly seen in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka.

7.

A food competition was held jointly with 3rd year medical students at the University of Jaffna on

February 9, 2014.

Diabetic Center at Teaching Hospital, Jaffna started first began back in May 2009 with the immense The support of the IMHO. The IMHO’s financial donation for the year 2013 & 1st quarter of 2014 has been Rs.

1,469,865. This amount has been used for the maintenance of the Diabetic Center, public awareness

programmes, research activities, and laboratory testing. Special laboratory investigations like lipid profile & HbA1C are being discussed with the specialists at Teaching Hospital, Jaffna with donations being used to conduct the above testing for diabetic patents.

We consider it a privilege to extend our sincere thanks to the donors who are the pillars of support to the

Diabetic Center at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital. All those involved in the Jaffna Diabetic Center salute

IMHO wholeheartedly.

Funding Distribution Breakdown:

Jambu Fund 114,890

Approved pending 125,325

Research Fund 190,000

Approved pending 190,000

Investigation Fund 919,283

Maintenance Fund 245,692

Approved pending 312,882

Total

Rs. 2,098,072

7

!

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Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way: “Kuruntham” Regional Alcohol Rehabilitation Center (RARC)!

By: Dr. S. Sivayokan, Psychiatrist, Mental Health Unit, Teaching Hospital, Jaffna

It has been widely observed that alcohol consumption has been steadily increasing in the Northern

Province of Sri Lanka during the past few years. The reasons for this increased consumption could be multi-faceted, but from a health point of view, we are very much concerned about the ill effects and

health hazards of alcohol not only on one’s personal well being, but also on his family’s and society’s well being. Alcohol plays a key role in a number of medical and psychiatric problems in addition to its

contribution to accidents, violence, and crime.

One of the sad observations is that many youngsters have started (ab)using alcohol, not occasionally, not for experimental purposes, but more or less on a regular basis and in large quantities. Recent evidence has clearly shown that serious consequences of alcohol abuse like dependence syndrome and

other neuro-psychiatric manifestations are found to be more prevalent amongst persons who have

started consuming alcohol at a young age. Ironically, in our current society, alcohol has been given the accreditation in “official” ceremonies and “cultural” events. This phenomenon became contagious with

youngsters simply mirroring what they see adults doing.

It is obvious that once a person becomes dependent on alcohol, it is very difficult for him to turn away it. Alcohol dependence, like with any addiction, creates changes in the functioning mode of the from body and mind; and as such, for those who have developed a dependence, alcohol becomes an essential part of life. This is the reason why when someone suddenly stops consuming alcohol, he experiences a wide range of withdrawal symptoms, both in body and mind, which may last for 3 to 7 days.

Furthermore, when a person becomes dependent on alcohol, he often neglects the other parts of his life, such as his family, work, and leisure activities. Alcohol becomes a constant preoccupation.

When people realize that they have a problem – that their body, mind, family, work and social status have been affected by their alcohol consumption – they often consider reducing or curbing their

alcohol intake. But reducing the amount of alcohol consumption usually becomes a “mission

incomplete” in societies like ours, where alcohol has been primarily taken for getting the buzz. As such, whatever the decisions taken related to cutting down the consumption are and whatever the methods

tried in minimizing the intake, these efforts will usually end in disappointment. Therefore, we believe that cutting down the consumption or advising the dependent person to keep his drinking within the limits” may not be an effective intervention in our society. “safe

In this grounded reality, when someone wishes or determines to abstain from alcohol, it is important that he should go through some important steps. First, he should consult a doctor and seek medical help during the initial period (up to one week) of abstinence in which he may experience severe

withdrawal symptoms. It is important to realize that when a dependent person tries to abstain from

alcohol without proper medical help, he will most probably end up with extreme consequences and medical complications that typically immediately push the addict back towards alcohol re-intake.

Once he recovers from the withdrawal symptoms, he has to take a break from his routines and stay in a that helps him to revisit his life and analyze the damage that has occurred in his life due to place

alcohol.

In other words, he needs to develop an insight about alcohol and its ill effects on his life. It is vital that he has to regain his self-confidence and commitment towards a new life. Simply ceasing one’s alcohol consumption alone is not sufficient; he needs to work out various strategies and plans to

maintain his abstinence for a longer, sustained period. His underlying physical, psychological, familial and work related issues and problems need to be acknowledged and addressed properly with the help

of competent professionals.

In our culture, family plays a major role in one’s life and it is the duty of the family to support and actively contribute to the “change” that their beloved ones have committed to accomplish. The family to understand the difficulties of maintaining abstinence and the cues of a possible relapse. In the needs run, there should be a support system and an active follow up mechanism that provides the long necessary support continuously for a year or two. And it is very important that there should also be a

plan about how to manage the relapses, which are quite normal and are a kind of expected outcome in the process, especially in the initial stages.

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Kuruntham, at Base Hospital Chavakachcheri has been functioning as the Regional Alcohol Rehabilitation Center (RARC) in Jaffna District under the purview of the health department. It is a

spacious unit with four cubicles in which eight clients can comfortably stay at a time. It is manned by a

multi-disciplinary team who are trained in dealing with alcohol-related problems. It has a living room,

study room, kitchenette, and space for indoor games and exercise.

A person who is willing to abstain from alcohol, after medically managing his withdrawal symptoms, can seek admission to this center only by voluntary means and not by any forceful manner. Those who admission will stay at this center for a minimum period of two weeks and undergo an array of seek

rehabilitation programs which are designed and implemented in accordance with the needs, aspirations, limitations, and future interests of the individual clients with the involvement of their

family members. After being discharged from the center, follow up with the client will be maintained

for a minimum period of one year with home visits and monthly group meetings.

IMHO has always been of great support for the alcohol rehabilitation services in Jaffna. IMHO has

supported the services of alcohol counselors for the last six years. The alcohol rehabilitation center in

Jaffna was first established at the Cooperative Hospital, Tellipalai where an old, damaged building was

renovated and refurbished by IMHO in 2008. Furthermore, IMHO has always been available for

technical advice and emotional support. We thank you and wish IMHO’s annual conference 2014 a great success.

For further details about Kuruntham at Base Hospital, Chavakachcheri, please contact us at

021.227.0662 (ext. 163) or 021.320.2145.

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Renovation of the Maternity Ward at Divisional Hospital, Atchuvely

By: G.Krishnakumar, Programme Planning Officer, Ministry of Health & Indigenous Medicines, Northern Province The Divisional Hospital, Atchuvely is located at Valikamam East divisional secretary division of Jaffna District, situated on the main road from Atchuvely to Jaffna. The hospital carries out operations 24-hours per day in rendering its services to the people at Vadamaradchy, Thenmaradchy, and Valikamam East. The hospital serves about 65,000 populations in these areas.

The hospital has the availability of Medical, Dental, Antenatal Clinic, Family Planning Clinic, WWC, and Diabetic clinics. The average outpatient attendance per day is about 190. The hospital houses an outpatient division (OPD), male ward, female ward, children’s ward, and maternity ward. The bed strength of these wards is 60 total persons with the average bed occupancy rate per night at 43. The average new admission rate is 11 persons per day.

The hospital has an old maternity ward where the average delivery rate per month is about 15.

Delivery service was limited to one at a time given resource constraints. There are more than 60 expectant mothers residing in the wards who receive care. As such, importance was given to developing and renovating the maternity ward. As a result, quality services could then be provided to the pregnant mothers. The number of beneficiaries is expected to double.

The roof of the old maternity ward collapsed earlier, the level sheets came down, and the staff worked here under great fear. Now after renovations, the staff are back to working happily and comfortably.

We offer our sincere thanks to IMHO on behalf of the hospital for funding this project. I take this opportunity to thank you for your unforgettable service and appreciate your many praiseworthy deeds.

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A Continued Commitment to Amputees

and those with Disabilities in Sri Lanka

By: Dr. (Mrs). J. Ganeshamoorthy, Hon. Chairperson, Jaffna Jaipur Centre for Disability

Rehabilitation (JJCDR)

Over the years, IMHO has lent its support to a number of projects that strive to serve the needs of war

amputees and the physically disabled throughout Sri Lanka. As part of an ongoing partnership with Jaffna Jaipur Centre for Disability Rehabilitation (JJCDR), IMHO and JJCDR share a the commitment to the full and comprehensive rehabilitation of war victims and others who are disabled.

As other organizations that have traditionally provided support to JJCDR have pulled out of Sri Lanka

recently, IMHO has maintained its commitment, seeing the great need for such work to continue.

recent major accomplishment was the publication of two JJCDR educational health publications One entitled Stump Care for Below Knee Amputees and Stump Care for Above Knee Amputees. The Chief

Guest of the event was Dr. K. Umapathy, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at the Teaching Hospital,

Jaffna. The printing of these books was sponsored by IMHO, which was one of many projects

sponsored this year, including the following:

Project Description Amount

Repair of tricycles (pilot project) – repaired 21 tricycles Rs. 100,000

Rs. 313, 000 Repair of tricycles (ongoing project) – 50 repairs planned Assisting the needy disabled persons / students (ongoing project) – Rs. 1,490,000 providing wheelchairs, tricycles, crutches, and educational grants Printing booklet on stump care after amputation (completed) Rs. 240,000 Making of molds – sizes 23 and 25 (completed) Rs. 240,000 Strategic planning and project proposal workshop Rs. 162,000 Donation of Sony Cyber Shot digital camera (donated) Rs. 21,750

To learn more about JJCDR, please visit www.jjcdr.com.

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Giving a Healthy Start to Babies at the New Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

(NICU) at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital

By: Dr. Srisaravanapavananthan, Consultant Pediatrician, Teaching Hospital, Jaffna

For over 30 years the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the Teaching Hospital, Jaffna was

functioning in a small area as the Premature Babies Unit (PBU) attached to the old maternity building.

After the renovation of the old obstetric theatre complex through support by IMHO, the Neonatology Unit now functions as the NICU, Mother Baby Unit (MBU), and Lactation Management Centre (LMC) on the ground floor and in the upstairs area of the building.

The current nightly total of women served by the new facilities is about 20, with the average monthly admission being 120 women. Common problems recorded are prematurity, babies with growth

retardation or disabilities, feeding problems, neonatal infections, jaundice, respiratory distress, surgical

problems, etc.

We have 10 functioning incubators, 15 cots, 5 mothers’ beds, 3 ventilators, 3 CPAP machines and other vital equipment. After the renovation works, we were able to bring down the chronic overcrowding problem we had previously experienced, and that resulted in reducing the incidence of neonatal sepsis.

Previously, we did not have separate washrooms or toilets for staff. Now we have adequate rooms and

facilities for staff. Before we shifted to the renovated NICU, we also did not have a place to clean incubators.

Mothers were sleeping on the floor, with their belongings spread out everywhere. Now we

have a Mother Baby Unit (MBU) where mothers can sleep with their babies on proper beds.

The present NICU area has demarcated non septic side, septic side, nurses and doctors duty area,

stabilization area which we did not have earlier.

The following statistics provide a better insight into the dramatic need for the support that IMHO and its supporters made possible through their hard work and commitment:

Data: 2012

• Total neonatal deaths in 2012: 112 * Out of these 112 deaths, 12 babies were admitted from other districts

• Total deliveries in Jaffna: 6,789 • Total deliveries in periphery areas of Jaffna: 1,735 • Total deliveries (all Jaffna District): 8,524 • Institutional Neonatal Mortality Rate: 14.7 deaths per 1,000 live births

The following photos show the situation before the renovation and opening of the new NICU:

Mothers belongings were on the floor

Mothers were lying on the floor

13

There was no separate duty station There was no separate feeding room

The following photos show the spectacular situation after the renovation and opening of the new NICU:

14

15

Karainagar Abiviruthti Sabai (Students’) Library

By: Siva T. Mageson, President, Karainagar Abiviruththi Sabai

Karainagar is one of the seven islands off the northern coast of Sri Lanka. Its people, like any other village/town people in the land, are proud of their contributions towards developing their language, culture, and religion. Karainagar Abiviruththi Sabai is a registered charity, and with financial assistance from sister Associations, is engaged in various projects to improve the lives of the people, not only in Karainagar but in other nearby places as well. One such project is a library built from contributions by people locally but mainly from abroad. The library is called Karainagar Abiviruththi Sabai (Students’ Library). It is a mammoth project, but its building works have been reasonably completed to enable the library to accommodate regular users. At present, there are two assistants working in the library, and they cater to the needs of the regular library users.

With donations from well-wishers abroad, the library has equipped itself with furniture and books. The main contributor towards acquiring the furniture is IMHO, which generously donated the requisite funds for this purpose. Within a period of less than six months since opening, the library has received over 2,000 books as a donation. In addition, funds have been collected to acquire more books. In the long run, Karainagar Abiviruththi Sabai hopes to achieve its target of having more than 10,000 books of high value to the people and to extend its aim in providing computer facilities.

Karainagar Abiviruthti Sabai takes this opportunity to thank IMHO and its supporters for their generosity and prays that their good deeds continue.

16

Oral Health & Hygiene Program in Sri Lanka

By: Dr. Tharani Rajendra, Dental Surgeon, Kilinochchi Hospital

& Dr. T. Sathiyamoorthy, Treasurer, Kilinochchi Education Development Trust

The special program to improve the oral hygiene of schoolchildren in Northern Sri Lanka was inaugurated th by the Kilinochchi Education Development Trust (KEDT) with the collaboration of IMHO on January 7 , 2013 with the aim of improving the oral hygiene of schoolchildren, especially those in grade 1 – grade 5.

This project, funded by IMHO, included several seminars regarding oral hygiene that were held in

Kilinochchi District for grade 1 schoolteachers. With their help, toothbrushes and toothpaste were given to grade 1 children. These children were then motivated to brush at school each morning. A field staff continuously monitored this program. It was a great success and as a marked improvement in oral

hygiene among school children was observed, so we planned to continue the program in 2014 as well.

A seminar on “Oral Health Awareness” was held in Kilinochchi on March 15th, 2014 with a welcome

speech by the Medical Superintendent of Vavuniya District Hospital, Dr. T. Sathyamoorthy, followed by the Director of Education, Kilinochchi (primary section), Mr. S. Ganeshalingam, who gave a speech on the

success of the previous year’s program. Later on the House Officer from OMF Unit of Vavuniya District Hospital, Dr. M. Thavarasa, lead a discussion about the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene

throughout one’s life. It was a very interactive session with the schoolteachers that touched on the

following:

• The importance of maintaining good oral hygiene • The relationship between systemic diseases and oral hygiene maintenance • Common oral diseases that occur in the oral cavity • The causes of dental caries • How to prevent the development of dental caries • The causes of gum disease • How to prevent gum disease • The importance of proper brushing with a toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste

At the same time, he also explained about the brushing

program for grade 1 schoolchildren and how the program cannot be carried out without the support and commitment from the schoolteachers themselves. After his discussion, the Dental Surgeon of Mulankavil Base Hospital, Dr. Elilvel, explained about the proper brushing technique

using model of a set of teeth. He explained about the amount of toothpaste to be taken on a brush for an as well as for a child and the time it takes for proper brushing. Then the mobile Dental Surgeon for adult

Kilinochchi, Dr. Tharani, explained about the importance of primary teeth. Finally, the Dental Surgeon for District General Hospital, Kilinochchi, Dr. A. Indrakumar, explained about the prevalence of oral cancer

17

in Sri Lanka, its causes, and prevention. He mainly indicated that oral cancer can be cured with early

detection.

The Dental Surgeon at District Hospital, Akkrayankulam, Dr. N. Nishanthini, and the School Therapist (SDT) of Kilinochchi Maha Dental

Vidyalayam, Mrs. Nalini Rasathurai, also participated in this program.

Later on Dr. T. Sathyamoorthy clearly explained the way out this program in schools. He explained that to carry and pastes should be given to each and every brushes school for all grade 1 students and that the teachers should help the students practice brushing at the specified morning interval time. He also insisted that the

teachers should take the responsibility to educate and

motivate the children for brushing. He further explained that the teachers should arrange a separate place to keep the brushes in the classrooms, and each brush should be properly named. At the same time, he reinforced

the fact that the brushing place should be kept clean and that this program should be continued without

any interruption.

Then he gave the mobile number and the land number of Kilinochchi District Education Development Trust fund to all teachers and he advised to contact for continuous distribution of brushes and pastes to these schools. He allocated 4 brushes to a child for a year and 1 toothpaste packet for every 10 brushes.

Thereby he reinforced to use 1 toothbrush for a three-month period. Further, one of the field officers, K.

Nithushan, was appointed to monitor this field program.

The Director of Education (primary section), Mr. S. Ganeshalingam, then declared the following week as an “oral health week” in schools to promote the brushing program and ensured that the letters and

materials would be sent out to the schools regarding this valuable program.

the workshop, one of the teachers gave her opinion regarding the program. She explained that this During program was very useful, and it was ideal to start with grade 1 student because oral hygiene practice

should be cultivated from early on. She further spoke about how the program was not only useful for

students but that the teachers themselves also gained far better knowledge regarding oral hygiene.

In total, 88 teachers from 74 schools across Kilinochchi District participated in this program, and 2,421 brushes and 256 tubes of toothpaste were initially distributed.

This program demonstrated what is possible with regard to oral health and hygiene education. Using schools and teachers as a network in getting out the word and implementing much need oral health programs such as this, we can make a big difference in the current and future health of many more thousands of children in the future.

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Base Hospital, Tellipalai:

A Renovated Hospital in a Resettlement Area of Jaffna

By: Dr. M.S. Umashankar, Medical Superintendent, Base Hospital, Tellipalai

The Base Hospital, Tellipalai is situated in the Valikamam North region of Sri Lanka. Valikamam North

has natural gifts such as vast fertilized agro land, rich coastal fishing waters, and a thriving cement factory industry in the Jaffna Peninsula. These economical advantages for the area leads to having a big farming

and fishing population, along with many blue-collar factory workers. The government identified this geographical area as having a great need for a Government Hospital with the capacity of a District

Hospital.

In the 1970s, the hospital was constructed in accordance with the Ministry of Health’s standard building protocols at that time. This means that the space between wards are long corridors which facilitate direct

ambulance access to all wards.

Due to the ongoing war, the hospital was evacuated from this original building and functioned at a skeletal level by operating Mental Health Units (a service only offered by B.H. Tellipalai) in three different temporary locations.

In 2004, radiation therapy services were reinitiated at the original hospital building. After the end of the war, however, the Government prioritized the renovations of these war-torn buildings. These renovations gave the hospital a modern look with marble tiles, modern washroom facilities, and fully functioning piping.

With the Government resettlement program after the end of the war, the local population increased by folds. This was the prime reason for investing in renovations and adding more personnel, in many addition to the fact that the hospital had a fully functioning Operation Theatre, Emergency Unit, and

Gynecological Wards with respective medical consultancy services. Specialized medical consultancy is

available in Surgery, Medicine, Gynecology/Obstetrics, Pediatrics, Radiology, Oncology, and Mental

Health. Specialized curative treatments are only available at B.H. Tellpilai for the whole Northern

Province.

Furthermore, these two units are teaching units for medical students from Jaffna University. All units are equipped with necessary medical equipment, including a well-functioning Radiology Unit and medical laboratory that promote high quality treatment. Even outdoor treatment is provided through senior Medical Officers’ availability. Similarly, Pediatric, Diabetic, Surgical, Oncological, Mental Health, and other outpatient clinics are conducted by specialized medical consultants.

Due to high demand for services at the hospital and frequent visits by family members of patients, a lot of vehicles (bicycles, motor bikes, three wheelers, cars vans) come to hospital and park inside the hospital premises. There was a small vehicle park existing that could accommodate about 15 bicycles and 20

19

motorbikes at a time, but over time this become very much inadequate. Visitors thus began parking their vehicles in the open space in front of the OPD, leaving them vulnerable to the hot sun, rains, and other natural elements and disturbing the process of admitting patients for emergency care.

The Hospital Management identified the need for a bigger vehicle park that could be little away from the OPD entrance. With the support and goodwill of IMHO, a new vehicle park at the hospital with adequate parking space for all visitors was constructed and opened for use. The Medical Superintendent, through his tireless efforts, was able to garner the support of a private contractor in constructing an access road to

this vehicle park, something that obviously would not have been possible without IMHO’s support.

Overall, this new vehicle park is helping the B.H. Tellipalai Hospital Development Society and the hospital itself to move closer towards becoming the exceptional institution it strives to be. Our sincere thanks to all helping hands of the IMHO for offering this timely help.

Dimuth Wijemannne

Century 21 Professionals

In Support of Livelihood Projects for Paraplegics in Sri Lanka

949-254-0175

20

c21dimuth4homes@yahoo.com

Science Navigators: Museum of Natural History and Science

By: Dr. Arulnithy, Consultant Cardiologist, Teaching Hospital, Batticaloa

is the key to the future. The concept of thoroughly obtaining and seeking knowledge is also called Science The field comprises virtually anything, including ourselves, our environment, and the world as a science. whole.

Knowledge of common science and scientific thinking are grossly lacking in Sri Lanka, which creates a wide gap between people in the developed world and societies like Sri Lanka with regards to innovation, invention, and expertise.

It is our duty to guide our children in narrowing this clear science gap. For this reason, an organization called Science Navigators was founded to fulfill this need. Science Navigators is a non-profit organization formed in 2010 by a group of science-minded individuals interested in sharing knowledge and improving the understanding and practice of science in our communities.

One of our important recent activities was establishing a Museum of Natural History and Science. Having such an institution is an important part of imparting knowledge and public interest in the sciences amongst students and the public at large. It provides a way for us to understand and to know our

surroundings and how everything has come to be. Museum visits can be a very effective way to access and

acquire knowledge of animal science, plant science, Earth science, water science, astronomy, technology, and so much more.

Initially we opened this museum on a small scale with through collecting some funds. The municipal council in Batticaloa was kind enough to provide us with an unused building within the public library

premises. The museum now includes installations on water, plants, geology, general science, and

astronomy (including a telescope and a dome). Due to limited space, each and every section of the

museum at present is presented in a small-scale exhibit. We have also established a multimedia centre with projector to show short films and video clips where we conduct Astronomy classes in particular for young students. forward, we are planning to develop a full-fledged museum with a grand vision. This museum will Moving

eventually act as a research center and center for invention and innovation. To achieve this, we intend to pursue the following: ! Establish science study centers at the village level ! Introduce green and affordable energy ! Conduct research experiments to study our environment, food, plants, technology, and more ! Create a weather centre ! Hold lectures, seminars, and courses on cutting-edge science topics ! Promote invention and create opportunities for students to study and explore

There are several ways you can help in the development of this important facility: 1. Pay us a visit!

2. Contribute your valuable suggestions and actively take part in the process of developing the

facility

3. Provide display items (e.g.: science models – which could be second-hand used by your

children) or other artifacts.

4. Make a donation to cover ongoing operational costs for which we only have a small revenue

stream at present. No amount is too large or too small. You can write a cheque to IMHO or

send it to us directly by making a cheque out to “Science Navigators” and sending it to:

Science Navigators

38, Nalliah Road,

Batticaloa,

Sri Lanka

For more information, please visit our website at sciencenavigators.org or email us at museum@sciencenavigators.org. Thank you for your support.

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A Stitch in Time Saves Nine: How the Actions of the IMHO Spared the Collapse of Maternity Services in Kilinochchi, Sri Lanka

By: Dr. N. Srisarapavananthan, Consultant Pediatrician

Kilinochchi District is situated in the centre of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. This district The

serves people well beyond its boundaries, as the people from other districts also tend to seek care in Kilinochchi, namely those from Mullaithivu, Mannar, Vavuniya, and Jaffna. In addition, as this

district is comprised of people from various parts of the country, a mobile population of pregnant

women from other parts of the country (including Galle, Colombo, Upcountry, and throughout the

Eastern Province) also comes for antenatal care and delivery services on account of many of their parents and grandparents living in the area. Thus, demand is much higher than one might think

Furthermore, the area is rife with paddy fields and jungle making access to the main district general

hospital difficult for many people. Many of the roads are in poor condition, and public transport

facilities are limited.

All these factors contribute to reduced compliance with antenatal care. To improve this, we at Kilinochchi

Hospital are conducting outreach clinics with the

support of our Regional Director of Health Services (RDHS).

These clinics are conducted in Mulangavil

and Mallavi Base Hospitals, and in Divisional

Hospitals at Poonakary, Tharmapurum, Palai, and

Punkudutivu.

The main service that is offered to

patients is ultrasound scanning to confirm expected date of delivery, assess fetal growth, and determine placental location. Unfortunately, the very old scanner

that was used for this purpose suddenly deteriorated stopped working. We were all afraid that our and

system would collapse and that the maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity would rise.

It is during this period that the IMHO extended its helping hand and provided a mobile ultrasound scanner. This machine is of good quality, with adequate facilities and an adequate warranty period.

With such a reasonable action, IMHO prevented the entire

collapse of the system. This small “stitch” at the right time made all the difference.

Another challenge we face is that we have fewer medical

officers and nursing officers working in District General

and other hospitals. In order to assist consultants in outreach clinics, pre-intern doctors are utilised. These

doctors are also helping us in District General Hospital

special clinics, such as infertility clinics, early pregnancy

assessment clinics, maternal assessment clinics, etc. They also visit the Mahadeva Achchiramam Children’s Home

weekly to encourage and help the children there.

Unexpectedly, however, there were problems regarding the payment of these doctors. Again, the

IMHO helped us to overcome this obstacle when the routine channels of support were unable to

provide an alternative.

The IMHO is like a mother who extends a helping hand during times of need without any hesitancy and encourages us to serve the innocent people in our communities to the best of our ability. We, as

care providers, and the people from the Kilinochchi and other districts will never forget this

assistance.

We hope that this help and support will continue in the future as well, as we need buildings for a Special Care Baby Unit and consultant quarters, which will solve many existing problems in our hospital.

Thank you very much to our friends at IMHO. We wish you all the best and a long life.

22

Stroke Rehabilitation Unit in Jaffna Appeal By: Dr. Ajini Arasalingam, Consultant Neurologist, Teaching Hospital, Jaffna

Background:

Stroke is major health problem in Sri Lanka. It is a leading cause of morbidity and disability and the fifth leading cause of hospital deaths in Sri Lanka (http://www.health.gov.lk/Annual Health Bulletin.htm.). During the last decade there has been an increase in the burden of stroke in developing countries. There is a paucity of data on the prevalence and incidence of stroke in Sri Lanka. In a study carried out in 2007 in the MOH area of Kelaniya the prevalence of stroke was 961/100,000 (Ranawaka U DSH, Balasooriya J. Prevalence of stroke in a Sri Lankan community. Sri Lanka Medical Association 116th Anniversary Academic Sessions: programme and abstract book. 2003; OP 38:47. ) and a recent study carried out in the Colombo District in 2011 showed a prevalence of 1000/100,000 (T.Chang, S. Gajasinghe, C. Arambepola. Epidemiology of Stroke in the District of Colombo, Sri Lanka: A Community based study. Presented at the Asia Pacific Stroke Conference 2011, published Cerebrovascular Disease 2011; 32(Suppl 2):1-33).

The Stroke Unit Trialists Collaboration meta-analysis of stroke unit care proved beyond doubt that patients managed in stroke units had a better outcome. Despite improvements in mortality and morbidity, people with stroke need effective rehabilitation services. Stroke rehabilitation is designed to facilitate restoration of, or adaptation to loss of, physiological or psychological function. It requires multidisciplinary assessment, identification of functional difficulties and their measurements, treatment planning through goal setting and delivering of these interventions.

The Jaffna district is one2 of the 25 districts of Sri Lanka and is situated in the Northern Province. It has a total area of 1025 km and a population of 583,378 based on the 2012 census. There have been no prevalence studies carried out in the Jaffna district. Thus we need to assume that the prevalence is similar to that in Colombo and Kelaniya. Thus there should be around 6000 stroke patients in the district.

The Jaffna Teaching hospital a tertiary care university hospital and the largest hospital in the Northern province is in the Jaffna District. There are 4 base hospitals providing healthcare services to the district namely Point Pedro Base Hospital, Tellippalai Base Hospital, Chavakacheri Base Hospital and the Kayts Base Hospital. In addition there are divisional hospitals and primary medical care units providing health care services.

There is no stroke / neurology rehabilitation centre in the Jaffna District. In fact there are only few rehabilitation centres in the country such as the Digana Rehabilitation centre in the Central province and the Ragama Rehabilitation Centre in the Western province. None of these centres are exclusively stroke or neuro-rehabilitation centres. The need for a stroke rehabilitation centre is undisputable.

Objective: Our objective is to establish a stroke/neuro-rehabilitation unit in the Jaffna District.

Approach:  Identify an area in one of the base hospitals in Jaffna to establish the unit.  The staff including nursing officers, health care workers, occupational therapist, speech therapist, physiotherapist, psychologist, social worker and medical officers would be provided



by the ministry of health.

Funding would be needed for the equipment, accessories and the initial phase of setting up the unit.

23

Budget: Speech and Language Unit:

List of equipment for a functioning stroke rehabilitation – SLT Unit

Category Description Rough

cost LKR

These can vary in their themes 500 -1000 01. Picture cards 02. Other stationary A4 sheets, pencils, pens 1000

03. A table top fridge This is real handy of patients are still on NGT 10,000

and are coming from home for a Physiotherapy Equipment:reassessment – they can’t bring jelly but we can have it ready made.

04.

A stethoscope Something powerful enough to listen to 2500

swallows 1. Activity mattress 05. A pen torch 350 wheel (with 360 degree scale) 2.06.Shoulder Metal spoons 5ml and 10ml Metal spoons one each 50 3.07.parallel walking bar Metal/ plastic tumbler Either disposable cups. But others can be 200 4. Exercise stair case washed and reused 5.08.posture A small surgicalmirror tray Can be a plastic tray too. (fir keeping 250 training Dysphagia tools while doing assessment) 6. shoulder pulley kit Tongue depressor Oral examination 150 7.09.dumbbells , bands 10.

Printing clinical documents Case history forms etc 1500

8.11.quadriceps exercise table Miscellaneous 3000

20 000 ROUGH TOTAL COST 9. balance board 10. suspension frame Physiotherapy Equipment: 11. Exercise ball 12. static cycle mattress supinator and pronator 1.13.Activity 2.

Shoulder wheel 14. walking aids (with 360 degree scale) walking bar 3.15.parallel small table for exercise purpose 4. Exercise stair case

5. posture training mirror 6. shoulder pulley kit

7. dumbbells , bands

8. quadriceps exercise table

9. balance board

10. suspension frame These are some of the equipment required. One could establish the unit with the minimum 11. Exercise ball 12. basics and gradually expand. static cycle 13. supinator and pronator 14. walking aids 15. small table for exercise purpose

Conclusion: Once established a stroke rehabilitation unit/ neuro-rehabilitation will provide inpatient as well as outpatient rehabilitation services to stroke patients as well as other neurology patients in the Jaffna District.

These are some of the equipment required. One could establish the unit with the minimum basics and gradually expand.

24

25

வா வாதார

“ஓசான ” -

ட

ேசட ேதைவ ைடேயா

இ ல

எம ச க ஒ அ க னராக ேசட ேதைவ ைடேயா காண ப றன .

இவ க ைள பா க ேடா , க ெத யாதவ , கா ேகளாதவ க , ைககா ஊன ரான இய க ம ெசய பா க ர ைன ேளா ,

ெம ல க ேபா என வைக ப தலா . ெப பா ேசட ேதைவ ேயா ,

ப தா , ச க னா ற க க ேபா அவ க

ேதைவகைள ெபா ெப கவ க

ேவ யவ களாக ச க நல அைம க

காண ப றன.

ஒ ம த நல ப ைய “ஓசான ” இ ல , ம ட கள இ வாறான ச ெகா டா கட த ப

வ ட களாக ெச வ ற . க ேதா க சைப அ க ய களா பராம க ப . த இ ல க ற , பக பராம , பா க ப ட ெப க ன வா ேபா ற பல

ெசய பா க நைடெப றன. “ ச ேபா ” சைப, நல க உத ட , இ ல இய வ ற . இ அ ம க ப ற ைளக இலவசமாகேவ உண , உைட, ம ,

உ பட எ ெகா க ப றன. இ ஐ அ சேகாத க த லா தமான உத க இ வ க நல கைள கவ றன .

அ ட ேசட ேதைவ ய ைளக

நலைன கவ க ய மாத ஊ ய 6 ெப

பராம பாள க , 4 ஆ பராம பாள க .

பக ேநர பாடசாைல க , நாளா த

ெசய பா கைள கவ பத என 14

ப யாள க , 4 ஆ ய க

ப யா றன . இவ க ய

ெகா பன க இ ல ; ெசல க என

மாத 300,000 ேம இ ல

ேதைவ ப ற . இ வள ெதாைக ைய

நல க ட இ ெப ெகா ள

யா ள .இ ைலய ேதைவைய

அ ள ேசட ேதைவ ய ைளக

பராம ைப , ஊ ய ெப ற ஊ ய க

மாதா த ஊ ய ைத கவன எ த அைன லக ம வ நல அைம ய வ மான ட டாக, இ ைலய ரான இய க த த வழ ள .இத ல ேகா வள , ப வள , அைர வ மான ைத மாதா த

ஆைல,ைதய ெப றன .

ெசய பா

எ பவ ைற ஆர

26

அத

ல

க

சமான

ேகா

வள

:

இ இைற ேகா , ைட ேகா எ பன வள க ப றன.

இ ல உ ள வய வ த ெப ைளக ,இ

ேகா ப ைனைய ந றாக பராம வ றன . இத ல

இ ல வ க கான ைடக , இைற எ பன ைட ப ட

பைன ல ந ல வ மான ைத ெப ெகா றன .

அைர ஆைல:

ேசட ேதைவ ய ெப ைளக வ மானமாக , இ ல

ேதைவக கான மா, ளகா எ பவ ைற ெப ெகா தமாக இ வாைல அைம க ப ள . இத ல இ ல ேதைவக ேபாக, ெபா ெச ய ப ட அைர க ப ட அ மா, ளகா எ பன உண ேதைவக பைன ெச ய ப ற .

ப வள :

ேபா ன ம ட கள

உ லாச க , உணவக க

க ெப ய அள

அைமக க ப ளன. பாக

பா டா, ம ட கள ேபா ற

இட க க ெப ய அள உ லாச க அைம க ப ளன. அ பல நா க இ உ லாச பய க வ ைக த றன . அ ட உ ; வா க ப இைற ைய ரத உ ளவாக உ ெகா றன . க ெப ய ெசல இ லாத, க உண க ல இவ

உணவ க ப ற .அ ட இைவ க ேவகமாக ெப க யைவ, இத ல எ கால இ ல ேதைவகைள ெச , த ைற ட வாழ ய ழ ஏ ப என

எ பா க ப ற . த ேபா 5 ேசா ப க ட இ ட ஆர க ப ள . இத கான

ெசல கைள அைன லக ம வ நல அைம ெகா உத ள .

ைதய ெசய பா :

உட ஊன ட ற இ ல டகாலமாக

உ ள வய ைள , யெதா ல வ த ெப

ய காக ைதய இய ர ெகா க ப ள .

அைன லக ம வ நல அைம , அெம கா வாழ அ ளவ க ெச த இ த ைலய ைளக , ப யாள க அ சேகாத க , பராம பாள க அவ க ப க சா பாக

ைலய ெபா அ சேகாத ெற னா ந ெகா ெத றா .

27

மாவ ேவ

- மனநல கா பக

யெதாழ வ மான ஈ ய க

அ க :

பதா கால உ நா த , ‘ னா ’ ேபரைல, அ க ஏ ப ற ெவௗள ெப , வற , ப ேவ ச க ர சைனகளா பா க ப ட பல உளநல ர ைனக

க ெகா ப வழைம இ த ர உ ய பர பைற கார களா பல உளநல

ர ைனக உ ளா றன இவ க ர உள ேநா களான வள ளைவ,

மேனாப ேகாளா க வ ேநா எ பவ னா பா க ப ஆ வ ம க ,

ம வ உத க ட வாழ ேவ ய ைல நாட ப ட ேநாயாள க உ ளன .

ேநா ஏ ப ய தா க ம களா ஏ ப ட ப க ைள க , ப க ஆதரவ காைம,

ெபா தமான ேவைல வா இ ைம ேபா ற பல காரண களா க சமான மன

ேநாயாள க ன வா ேதைவ ப ற .

ம ட ள மாவ ட , மாவ ேவ ‘ னா ’ அன த னாக ம ஒ யா ைவ ச க க உத ட அரச மனநல கா பக 2006இ அைம க ெப , ெச

இ வைர க ற பாக இய வ ற . இல ைக உ ள ற த மன நல கா பகமாக இ அைமய ெப ள .

இ 16 ேநாயாள கைள அ ம அவ க கான ன வா நடவ ைககைள ேம ெகா ள

. இவ க கான உண , ம ,இ ட ேபா றவ ைற காதார அைம , இலவசமாக ெகா ற . அ ட இ இர தா ய க , நா ய க , ஒ வ ைக வ மனநல ைவ ய தம கடைமகைள ெச றன . இ ஆள இ ேசைவைய வழ வத

ேபா மானதாக இ ைல. இ ராம ைத ேச த நா ெப ைளக அைன லக ம வ நல

அைம ெகா பன டாக மாத ேவதன ஒ ைற ெப றன . அ ட ராம உ ள

பாடசாைல மாணவ க , தம ேமல க க , இர ேநர த க ற . ெச பா காக இ

வ ைக த றன . இவ கைள ேபா ஆ ய கான ெகா பன க , எ பவ காக அைன லக ம வ நல அைம ஊடாக வ , வ மான ஈ ட ய ய க ேம ெகா ள ப ளன.

28

ேகா

வள

:

இ ேகா ப ைண உ ைடக ேகா க 100 வள க ப றன. ற த

சம ைல ரத உணவான ைட ேநாயாள க ய ேதைவ பய ப வ கலாக ஏைனயைவ

பைன ட பட உ ளன. இவ வ மான “ஆேரா யா” பயனா க ச க டாக ஊ ய ேவதன , ேநாயா க நல , ேச , ஆ ய ேவதன எ பவ பய ப த மா க ப ள .

ப வள :

இ ய டாக ைட வ மான ல ேம த ேதைவக ெச ய ப என எ பா க ப ற

ஆேரா யா பைன ைலய :

அ ைம ஆர க ப ட இ பைன ைலய ,

பயனா க உ ப ெபா க , உண ெபா க உண

அ லாத ேதைவ ெபா டக எ பன பைன

ட ப ளன. நாளா த 5000 - 6000 வைர பைன

நைடெப ற . அ ட இ பைன ைலய ைத

உ ள பயனா க , த ச ேதாஷ ட நடா வ றன .

, கா:

ேநாயா க ெபா ேபா ஒ ட

டாக உண அ த ேபா ற

ேதைவக காக இ கா

அைம க ெப ள . இர உணைவ பயனா க , பராம பாள க ேபா ற அைனவ ஒ றாக இ இ உ ெகா றன .

ய பாைத - ம , ேபாைத ெபா ன வா ைமய :

ம பாவைன , வ ைம இல ைக , ம ட கள மாவ ட தலாவதாக உ ள .

வ ைம, ப வ ைற, வ ரேயாக , த ெகாைல, ேபா ற பல ச க

ர ைனக ம பாவைன க ரதான காரணமா . இதைன க பா ெகா வ வத ண ெசய பா க மாவ ட வ ேம ெகா ப ற .

29

இத அ ைமயானவ கைள ன வா அ பைழய இய வ வ , கால ேதைவயாக உ ள . மாவ ேவ ன வா ைமய

பய ப தாம உ ள ம வ ைய, ள னரைம இ ேதைவ

ைலைம ெகா இ வைர பய ப த உ ேளா .

இ ஒேர தடைவ 8 பயனா கைள ஒ மாத வைர அ ம அவ க கான உட

ப ேசாதைனக , ம வ உத க எ பவ ைற ெகா ய வா கான, ய

பாைதைய ன வா டாக அைம ெகா பேத, இ ன வா ைமய ேநா கமா .

இவ க , அவ க ரா க , ய உத கைள உ வா , ய வ கா ட

ெகா ப ட , ேதைவயானவ கைள இ ல அ வா க . இவ கைள உள ச க

ேசைவயாள க , உள ச க உத யாள க உள வள ஆேலாசைனயாள க ேபா ேறா க

க கா அவ க கான வ கா ட கைள வழ வா க .

இ ய ன வா ைமய , னரைம உத மா அெம கா வா இ ய த உற கைள அ ட ெகா ேக ேறா .

30

உளநல

ேசைவக ….

-ஆதார ைவ யசாைல வாைழ ேசைன.

‘ னா ’ கட ேகா அன த நட தத ம ட கள மாவ ட உளநல ேதைவக , அ ய ப ட ேபா வாைழ ேசைன ஆதார ைவ யசாைல , உளநல ஒ அைமய ெப வத ேநா க டா ட .ம.கேணச உளநல ைவ ய ணராக இ த கால உணர ப ட . ேர க அரசா க த ட - UNOP’S அைம னா ப ர

ப ைக வச க ட , ர உளநல 2006 ஆ டள ஆர க ப ட .

ற ழ

தா லமான இ ரேதச , மைழ கால க

ைற கா ப வதா , ள ெப க , ஷ

ஜ க நடமா ட எ பன க ெபா வாக

காண ப ட . அ ட அ ம க ேநாயாள க , ப யாள க இதனா அ க ரம க உ ளா க ப டன .

டா ட . டா ச ரராஜா உளநல ம வராக

கைடைமயா ய 2010 ஆ அைன லக ம வ

நல அைம உத னா இத ற

பாரஊ ெகா ெச ைம இட ப

இ ர ைன க ப ள .

உ க மான வச க

ேர க அர த ட 2013 ஆ டள பல

உ க மான வச க ைட க ெப ளன.

ப ச , ெபா ேபா ைமய ,

சைமயலைற, உ பட பல த ேவைலக

இட ெப த ேபா ெபா ெப ள .

அ ட அ ம க ப ேநாயாளா;க

எ ைக அ க ள . உளநல

ஆேலாசைனக , ப உட ைற த ேபா ற

ேசைவக ந ைர ெகா க ப றன.

ேசதன ப ெச ைக

ைய ெவ கா க ைறயேவ உ ளன. இ கா க , ேநாயா க நாளா த

ெச பா க ஓர கமாக , வ மான த ய யாக இய ைக ப ெச ைக ஆர ள . யா பாண இ ெகா வர ப ட ஐ வாைழ க க ப ப இ நட ளன. இவ இய ைக உற களான மா ெட , உ சா ப , ெச ம எ பன இட ப ற .

31

அ ைமய பர க ப இல ைக வசாய இரசாயன, உர பாவைன உல த ட ெப ள . இத ைளவாக ேநா க , இதய ேநா க , ரக ேநா க அ க ளதாக காதார அைம அ ள . ப ெச ைகைய ஊ ேநா ட , வாைழ, மர க , பழமர ெச ைக எ பன அைன லக ம வ நல அைம த ட ஆர கப ள .

அ ட “வான ” என ெபய ட ப ட

பயனா க ச க உ வா க ப ள . இத

ல ைட க ெப வ மான ெப ப ேநாயாள க வா வாதார ேதைவக கான

ெகா பன க அவ க ம வ, ய ேதைவக பய ப த மா க ப ள .

ற உளநல

உளநல ேகாளா க , அறைளெபய த , அயவ

ைறபா க , பா சவாத தா பா க ப ப ைக

உ ேளா , அன த களா பா க ப க

ழாக, இ ழாக இய க யாதவ க ,

இவ கைள அ ம , ஆர ப ன வா வ த, ப

உ ன கைள, ேம ப ேநாயாள கைள பராம பத

ப த , ைக ட ப ட, ப உ ன க

உ ள நாட ப ட ேநாயா கைள ட கால

அ ம , ன வா வ ப க ட

இைண த ேபா ற பல ேநா க கைள ெகா டதாக, ப ப ைக வச க ட இ ற உளநல அைம க ற .

ேர க அரசா க த ட UNOP’S அைம இ ய அைம ப க இ ேபா ஆர கப ளன. இத எ ய ெசலவா ற எ rவ ஒ ேடாப

மாத னதாக இ ப க யைட .

ற உளநல உ க டைம வச க

ேர க அரசா க த ேய க ட வச கைள ம ேம ெப தர ள . இத ேதைவயான க க , ெம ைதக , ேநாயா க பா அ மா க , ேமைச, க ைர,

ெதாைல கா ெப , ப ைக க , அ மா க ேபா ற ெபா கைள நாேம ேதட

ேவ ய ைல உ ேளா . இ ேதைவகைள ெப ெகா ள நா இ வைர எ த ய க

பயன க ைல. அ ட த ேபா ல ல ைக பல ப நா அர சாரஅைம க

தம ப கைள இைட ளன.இ ேதைவகைள வழைம ேபா , அைன லக ம வ நல அைம ட , அெம க வா ஈழத ம க டேம ேக க ேவ ய ப த உ ேளா . இவ ைற ெப த வத ல ம ட கள மாவ ட உளநல ேதைவக வ வ

ெப வ ட , ேதைவ உைடேயா அ வச கைள உ ய இட ெப ெகா ள வ ேய ப ற .

32

ெபா உளநல ைவ ய ,

உளநல ேசைவக , ஆதார ைவ

யசாைல,வாைழ ேசைன.

33

ஈழ

……

க ஆ ப த ப றன வ

அைன லக ம வ நல அைம , இ ைற

ப வ ட க , ஈழ

ம க காக ல ெபய , அெம கா,

கனடா ேபா ற நா க வா ச க நல

களா தா க ப ட ப நா

ெதா வன ஆ . இல ைக

பாக வட , ழ மாகாண க

மைலயக , ெத ப க ம வ, ச க

ெபா ளாதார வா வாதார ெசய பா கைள

கட த ஒ சகா த காலமாக ெச வ ற .

இ த ர இ யா, எ ேயா யா, ெக ,

ைப , ேபா ற நா க

அன த க ேபா அத ப ட கால க ம வ உத க , ம க வா வாதார கான அ பைட ேதைவகைள இன க உத வ ற ஒ த னலம ற,

சாராத, இலாப ேநா கம ற ம தா மான அைம பா . ம வ ைற வ ல உட ,

உளநல ேம பா ட . ஆேரா யமான ச க ைத உ வா வைத ைமய ெசய பாடாக ெகா

இ வைம இய ற .

வட , ழ மாகாண க , கட த ப

வ ட த ைலயா 2004 இ

ஏ ப ட “ னா ” இய ைக அன த தா பா க ப ட ப களா . இ மாவ ட க காண ப ற ம வ ேதைவக , ஆள ப றா ைறக ,

உபகரண ேதைவக , க ட ேதைவக ,

வாகன ேதைவக என எ லா தமான

ேதைவக த னா ஆன ப க ைப

ெச வ ற . அ ட ேய ய

ம க ெபா ளாதார ேதைவக இ ட க , பாடசாைல ேதைவக , மாணவ க கான க ற ேதைவக , ேபா வர ேதைவக எ பனவ கட த ல வ ட களாக தன கா ரமான ப க ைப ெச

வ ற .

உளநல ைற க ட ேதைவக , ஆள கான மாதா த ேவதன , ப க எ பனவ ேறா

ேநாயாள க , அவ க ப க ய ெதா ய , வ மான ெப ெகா ற

ய க கான ெச வ ய ற கட ெசய ட கைள உ அர சாரா

அைம க ட ெச வ றன . இத ல ம ட கள மாவ ட 200 ப க

ெநா மாவ ட 160 ப க இ வைர ந ைமயைட ளன .

-

34

ழ மாகாண ம தா மான ப கைள ேம ெகா ற “ஓசான ” மா றனா க இ ல ேகா வள , ப வள , அ மா ெபா ெச த ெதா சாைல எ பவ ைற , “ யா ” ெதா ப , இைளஞ உ வா க இ ல , ேகா வள ைமய ஒ ைற ,

த “ெபன ” மனநல கா பக ேம க ஆைல ஒ ைற உ வா வத உத

ெச ள . இைவ யவ மான த ய ேயா அ ள இைளஞ , வ க ேவைல

வா பாக , ப பாக அைம ற . இைவ அன த களா பா க ப ட ம க கான

ேநர யான ந ப களா . நலேனா

த னா , இய ைக அன த னா பா க ப ட, இ ழாக ெசய படாத

(Paraplegia) ழ இன காண ப ளன . அ ட 100 வைரயான இைளஞ , வ க வட

25 வைரயான இைளஞ வ க க ப ழாக (Quadriplegia) ெசய ல ப ைக

வ ட கண தம இளைமகால இ ப ப கைளெய லா ற ம லா ப ,

அ னா த ைல உ ளன . இவ கைள பராம க ஒ வ அ க ேவ . மாத

இர ைப (Urinary bag) மா ற தடைவ சல வ பாைத (Catheter) மா ற ப வ ட , ேவ ேமலாக ப ைக (Bed Sore), வாச ெதா (Respiratory tract infection) . அத எ பவ றா பா க ப ட ைல ட உட , உள வ க ட வா ற அவல ெதாட ற .

இவ க ப ேவ ெதா வன க அைன லக ம வ நல வன உ பட, த வ , ெசய ைக கா , ம வ உத க உ பட பல உத கைள ெச அவ க ஓரள

ஆ தலைடய உத ன. ம ட கள உ ள நா மா றனா க வா வாதார உத யாக

ைட க ெப ற 50,000 பண ைத ெகா அவ க ெதா ய ெச றன .

இ ப ெயா ட ச ப ச ப வ யா ள அ க ய க

பா க ப வ க 12 ச கர வ கைள இ வைம வழ க வ ள . எ வ

ச ழைமய (11 க ைத மாத ) வ யா ைக ரத ைலய ள “ேட

ேமா டா க ப ” வளாக ைவபவ யாக இ ச கர வ க வழ க இ நைடெபற ற . வ யா ேறா ட கழக அைன லக ம வ அைம

ெசய ட கைள உ அ ப அைம பாக ெசய ப ற .

இர ஏ கனேவ தடைவக அைன லக ம வ நல அைம ல பல ச கர

வ க ழ ல ழ க ப கட த யாக வழ க ப ளன. இ றாவ

தடைவயாக நைடெப ற .

ழ ைற லான இ ட னா அவ க மாதா த 3,000 - 4,000 பா வைர லான ெதாைக ைன தா க ெப ெகா ட ச கர வ ெச வ றன . இத ல ேச றவ ைற பண ைத ெகா ப ைக இ ற 25 வைர லான (Quadriplegia) ேநாயா க கான, ச கர வ க ெப ெகா க மா ேளா . ப ைகேயா இ ற இ ேநாயா க , ப க ப ட ப உ ன , இ ச கர வ ைய

35

ெகா , யாதா இயலாத ப உ

இ வ உத ெச

ெதா ய ல ப ேதைவகைள னாp ம வ, சமய, ச க ெசய பா க என எ பா ேறா .

ெச வேதா , தன ெகா ெச ல

என ெபய அ தவராஜா ம ல ைக , ம வ ைத, அ பாைற எ ராம ைத ேச த நா

க த ய ரேதச 1974 ஆ ைவகா மாத 24 க ற ேத . என

நா சேகாதர க , இர சேகாத க உ ளன . 1990 ஆ என ஒ சேகாதர

வ ைறக அக ப இற ளன . என ப னா வயதாக இ ேபா எ ைன ஒ

ேபாரா யாக இைண ெகா ேட . நா வ ட க ேபாரா ய 1993 ஆ ைவகா

மாத ப றா க ப ேபா 50 ற உயர இ தநா இ வைர

எ பேவ ைல. என நா காவ க ெள ஏ ப ட உைடவா னா

பா க ப இ ெசய ேள . வ இ த ேபாத நா எ த ைற இ ந றாக பராம க ப ேட . 2009 இ இரா வ ட சரணைட 2010 இ ட

இைண ேள . என ராம , க ைன நகாp இ 80மஅ ெதாைல உ ள .

மண ஆகாத சேகாதரேன எ ைன பராம றா . “ ” ெடா ட க ைன இ த

ேபா மாத ஒ தடைவ வ பா பா . அவ இ ேபா மா லா ெச ளா . ர ச

அ ன வ “க ட ” மா ப ைக ண ம ேபா வா . என காக , என ப நல காக ஒ

ச கர வ ைய

ெப த மா அ ட

ேக ேற . ெகா மாதா த அ ெதாைகைய ெச , எ ைன ேபா ற ஒ பயனா இ உதவ

ஆைச ப ேற . கட த 24

வ ட களாக க

ப ைக ட வா ற அவல வா இ ஒ

தடைவ ெவ லைக காண ஆைச ப ேற . எ

ஆைசைய உ களா க

.

“ப றவ ைன ெகா ப , க க ெகா ,

வைலைய ெகா ப ைய ேபா வேத ேமலான ” - சீனா, கனடா பழெமாழி

36

அைன லக ம வ நல அைம னா ஆ ற ப ட ேசைவக ெதாட பான அ ைக.

எம பாடசாைல அ ெதாட பாக அைன லக ம வ நல அைம

ெபா ேப ெகா வதாக ம வ த.ச ய அவ க ஊடாக நா அ ெகா ேடா .

பாடசாைல வ ைகத பாடசாைல அ ப , ஆ ய க , மாணவ க ேதைவகைள ேக ட

ெகா டா ேபா வர சார ேபா ற அ பைட வச க ஆ ய க . பாடசாைல மாணவ க ெப ப ப டன . பாடசாைல ஆ ய க த வத வச க க ரம ப டன . ற மாவ ட க 14 ஆ ய க இ வ க த ஈ ப டன . இதனா அவ க கான த டெமா உடன யாக அைம த வத அைன லக ம வ நல அைம வ த . ஆ ையக த வத ெகன பைழய க டடெமா ைன னரைம த ளன . இதனா ஆ ையக க ம யைட க த ெசய பா த ஆ வ ட ஈ ப டன .

பாடசாைல ற ேவ க இ ைம காரணமாக பா கா ைலைம ைல ல களா

ெவ நப களா ேசத க ஏ ப த ப வ தன. மா 600 ற ளமான பா கா ேவ ைய அைம பாடசாைல உ ளக பா கா வ ப த ப டேதா பாடசாைல க ைல ேம பா அைட ள . பாடசாைல ள 18 ஆ ய க ேதைவயான க கைள

ெம ைதகைள வழ ளன . ேம 4 அ மா கைள ஆ ய க வழ ளன . அ

மாணவ க கான ப ைசக நடா வத ஆவண கைள தயா பத மாக ழ ப இய ர

ஒ அவசரமாக ேதைவ ப ட . இ இய ர ைத வழ யத ல ேம த டய க ற பாக

ென க ப வ றன. பாடசாைல சார ேதைவைய ெச வத காக பா ய ற பா ஒ ைன வழ ளன . இத ல பாடசாைல கண ெசய பா கைள இர ேநர ேமல கைள ற பாக ென ெச ல யதாக உ ள . ேம பாடசாைல க வ கைல க ஈ ப மாண க கான அல கார உைடக ேதைவைய நா ைவ தேபா ம வ ந த மா அவ க உடன யாகேவ அவ ைற தயா பத கான ெபா ைப எ ைரவாக அல கார உைடகைள மாணவ க கைல க ைவ அைனவ பாரா ட த க வைக வ ெச தா . வழ

பாடசாைல ள ப தைட த கண கைள ன கைள அ த ெச த ேபா அைவ

இய ைல இ பைத நா ம ேயா ற ேறா . ேம ஒ ெதா

ய கல கைள (Solar Cells) அவ ல இய க ய Water pump ஒ ைன வழ மாணவ க இல வாக ெப ெகா ள வ ெச ளன .

அைன லக ம வ நல அைம ம வ த.ச ய அவ க ஊடாக எம பாடசாைல ஆ ய

ப க அள ெப யன. அ பைட வச க த ெகா த எம பாடசாைல அைன லக ம வ நல அைம உத க ெப வர ரசாதமாக அைம தன. அத பா எம பாடசாைல இைணபாட ெசய பா க க ேம ஒ ப உய ைல அைட ள என னா

ைகயாகா . பாடசாைல அ பைட ேதைவகைள இன க உ ய கால அவ ைற ைறேவ

த த அைன லக ம வ நல அைம ; அதைன ேநர யாக ெந ப ய ம வ

த.ச ய அவ க எம பாடசாைல ச க எ ென ந ண ைன

ெத ற . ெகா

பாடசாைல ச க

37

ள த வட பா

எ ைம ேபா ேறா எ

இ உட ஏைனய உ ளான ப

க ப ெகா ப க க

நட க க ெச

யாத ைல ச கர நா கா பாவைனயாள களாக இ யமான ர ைனக ஒ தா இ த சல காைம வ . ைள ள த ஊடாக தகவ க கட த ப றன. ஆனா அ பா ற தகவ களான தைட ப ற . இதனா த ைசயாக ெதா ப

ற

Blader & Bowel ஆன தகவ ைட காத காரண னா தம ெதா பா ைன இைட ெகா றன.

இதனா தா ச கரநா கா பாவைனயாள களா ய நா இவ ைன ெவ ேய வத மா வ கைள

ைகயா ேறா . இ வாறாக எம சல ைப ைன காைம வ ப த க ட த வ க க பா கா பான இல வான மான வ தா இ த SIC CATHETER பாவைன. ஏென றா இ த CATHETER பா பத ல நா ைறய ந ைமகைள அைட ேறா . உதாரணமாக:

 ஒ ெவா நா ஒ ட ேநர ைன ஒ அ த த ேநர க சல ைன ெவ ேய ெகா ேறா .

 ெவ ட க ெச வத ன SIC ல சல ைன ெவ ேய ெச வதானா ற னா Urine க ஏ ப ேமா எ ற பய இ லாம ெச ேறா .

 எ க நா கேள யமாக ேபா பா பதா தமாக காதாரமாக இ ேறா .

 ச யான ைற சல ைன ெவ ேய வதா ரக க உ வாகாம பா கா ேறா .

 ேவைல ெச இட நா ம றவ க ேபா ம யாக ேவைல ெச ேறா .

 எ பாதாராத தமாக Urine க வ ைற ச ேதாசமாக இ ேறா .  ப ெகா ம யாக இ ேறா . ைளயா க ப வா ைக  கமாக ச ேதாசமாக இ ேறா .  ம ரவ க த வாழாம யமாக இய ேறா எ ற த ன ைக ட வா ேறா .

 ர இட க ெச ேபா SIC இைன ெகா ெச ேறா .

இ ேபா ற ஏராளமான ந ைமக எம ைட பதாேலேய நா இ த SIC இைன ெப ெகா ள எ லா

இட க அைல ேறா . ஒ ட கால MSF வன ன த த SIC CATHETER இனா எ த ர ைன இ ம யாக இ த நா அ வைட த ன அ ப த ப க ப ட க ட க உ ைம வா ைதகளா ெசா ல யாதைவ. இ தா ஒ வ எ அதைன பா த எம அ இ ைல எ றான உட ய ; ம ம லா உள யலா பா க ப ேதா . ஒ ெவ ட க ெச வ ைல ைளயா க ப ெகாளவ ைல, ப தா ட ச ேதாசமாக இ த ைல. எ ேநர ேகாப ர ச ைடக ட ேலேய ட ட ேதா . ஏென றா ெவ ெச றா Urine க

ஏ ப ம வா கெளான ைன ேத ஒ இட ேபாவ ைல, எம SIC ரவ க எ கைள ேக ப

இ லாத கால ப நா இ எ ன ெச வெத ெத யாத ைல கைட யாக saline ேபா wire இைன

பா தா சல ைன ெவ ேய ேனா . நா இ த SIC இைன ேதடாத இட ைல சா காத

ஆ க ைல. எ தைனேயா ைவ ய க , கைடக . வன க , ெவ நா க என எ லா இட ேத

எம ல க எம ெப த த SIC ைட க ைல. இ யாக த க ைடய IMHO எ ற அைம இனா நா CATHETER எ ைன ேபா இ பவ க இ வைர பா பயனைட வ ேறா . எவ ேம

ெப தராத SIC இைன தா க எம காக ெப த தத காகநா ஒ ெவா வ த த யாக த க ந

ெசா ல கடைம ப டவ களாக இ ேறா . க ெச த இ த உத ைன நா எ வா நா மற க மா ேடா .

இ நா ன ேபா ச ேதாசமாக ம யாக ப ேதா ஒ ைன வா ேறா . எனேவ இ

ேபா ற உத ைன க ெதாட ெதௗ எம ெச தா க என த கைள ப வாக ேவ ேறா .

ந

38

தைலவ . க வள அற க டைள

இல 86 உபதபாலக அ காைம

கர ேபா , ெநா .

மாண க உத ெதாட பாக………

எம க னா ெச ற வ ட ஆர க ப ட மாண க யான ெப ேறாைர இழ த

ைளக காக க ர இட க இ வ ைக த ற மாணவ க நல க

ஒ கைம ள . இ ைளக நல க ைலமாவ ட அரசா க அ ப க ப அவ க ேபாக ப ஒ னா அ பைட வச க ஏ ப ெகா க ப ட ..

World vision வன தா க க ெம ைதக உ அ மா க வழ க ப ட . இ

ைல ெதாட இய வத கான ேவைள உண கான உத ெதாட பாக நா ெப

ரம ப ெகா த ேவைள தா க அற க டைள ய தைலவ

Dr. .ச ய அவ க ட ேநர யாக வ ைக த பா ைவ ைளக ஆ த

வா ைதக ய ட ெச ற வ ட வழ ய உண கான உத யான ெப உத யாக

இ த ம ம லாம மாண க ெதாட இய வத ய ந ைகைய

உ சாக ைத ஏ ப ள . ஏ ப    

 

உ ள மாண க ளன .

அைனவ

ஓ க ய க க ற ெசய பா க

த ேபா

அைட

வ

ம ட

உட ய ெதா பா க இைணபாட தான ெசய பா க ைளயா

· ·

த

ெமா

·

ம ற ெசய பா க

·

ஆ

·

கைல க க தைலைம வ ப க ஆ ல ெமா ேத

ல

கைல

ற

ேபா

ன ேபா

39

டய க

மா ற

இ வா வ ெச ற x 20’

பல டய க ேன வ மாண க க ற ெசய பா கைள ேம ளதா வத யா பாண ைத ர தர வ டமாக ெகா ய வய ெவ நா

அவர ந ப க மாக இைன அவர த ைத ஞாபகா தமாக 60’ ம ந ள ெகா ட க ற ட மலசல ட இ வ ட அைம த ளன .

இ வா பலர உத க ல இய வ மாண க நாளா த உ ேரா டமாக இய வத ெதாட உத வ த க உத ெப பாரா த ய . இ வ ட

த க உத ைய எம ச க ப ட ேகா வேதா த க க ைன உ ள தா

எ லா வ ல இைறவ அைன ஆ கைள வழ வ நடா வாராக. - ந

40

!

Restoring!Mobility!&!Hope!to!Paraplegics! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

!

Thanks!to!the!generous!support!of!so!many!people,!over!the!past!several!months!IMHO!has!been!able!

to!offer!life;altering!support!for!18!paraplegics!and!their!families!in!Vanni,!Northern!Sri!Lanka!and!has!

raised! the! necessary! funds! to! help! another! 12! paraplegics.! These! efforts! have! benefited! spinally; injured! paraplegics! who! have! been! rehabilitated! through! the! hard! work! and! dedication! of! local! partners,! physicians,! and! rehabilitation! experts.! They! have! been! trained,! empowered,! and! given! the! necessary!resources!to!drive!specially!equipped!three;wheelers!with!hand!control!modifications.!All!of!

the! beneficiaries! were! in! a! desperate! socio;economic! status! at! the! outset,! being! excluded! from!

holding! a! job! and! participating! in! many! daily! activities! on! account! of! their! lack! of! mobility,! poor!

infrastructure,! stigma,! and! more. Since! undertaking! this! initiative,! many! more! paraplegics! have!

emerged!as!the!success!of!this!project!has!become!more!well;known.!The!list!of!persons!in!need!has! to! more! than! 100! names.! While! it! may! not! be! possible! to! reach! them! all,! IMHO! has! so! far! grown!

impacted!the!lives!of!30!such!paraplegics.!And!with!your!help,!we!hope!to!do!more...

!!

This! ongoing! project! is! being! implemented! with! the! help! of! local! partners! and! will! benefit! future!

recipients! as! well,! all! of! whom! are! quadriplegics,! through! a! monthly! return! of! funds! by! the!

beneficiaries.!

All! of! the! beneficiaries! to;date! have! written! letters! of! gratitude! and! testimonials! as! to!

how!this!intervention!has!forever!changed!their!lives.!As!one!beneficiary!noted,!"I"feel"like"I"got"more"

than"just"my"legs"back...I"got"my"life"back."!We!felt!it!was!important!to!share!one!such!letter!with!you.!

The!following!letter!was!written!and!presented!in!August!2013!by!one!of!the!18!original!beneficiaries!

and!was!translated!into!English!from!Tamil:!

!!

"I,"Mr."Yoganathan,"would"like"to"let"you"know"that"I"am"a"paraplegic"injured"in"the"Vanni"area."I"have"

gone"through"numerous"hardships"and"have"been"unable"to"travel"anywhere."It"has"been"impossible"for"

me"to"even"go"to"the"Community"Center"or"to"the"hospital."After"receiving"a"threeBwheeler"from"IMHO,"

we" feel" like" we" have" regained" function" of" both" our" legs." This" threeBwheeler" is" an" absolute" need" for" our" livelihoods."Aside"from"this,"it"has"helped"us"to"meet"the"needs"of"our"children"going"to"school,"helped"us"

to"earn"a"living,"and"encouraged"us"to"be"a"part"of"the"community."We"consider"the"IMHO"and"all"the"

project"donors"as"our"family,"and"we"thank"them"wholeheartedly"for"this"assistance."Our"humble"request"

!

is"that"you"will"also"consider"helping"the"other"paraplegics"still"in"need"of"a"threeBwheeler.”! !

If!you!would!like!to!sponsor!a!three;wheeler,!please!contact!an!IMHO!Board!Member!today! !!

41

www.TheIMHO.org

42

43

Uttarakhand Flooding—Emergency Relief Report

By: Mr. M.S. Abdaheer, Executive Director, SAWED Trust (India)

Disaster: The In 2013, the powerful monsoon season and 60 hours of continuous heavy rains with cloud bursts devastated five (5) districts in the northern hill state of Uttarakhand in India. Flash

floods and landslides killed at least 10,000 people in Uttarakhand alone, and left tens of

thousands missing. The massive relief operations launched in the aftermath of the flash

floods triggered by heavy rainfall in the state succeeded in evacuating 50,000 persons to

safer places from the worst-hit districts of Chamoli, Rudraprayag, and Uttarkashi. At least

150 people, mostly elderly persons and children, died of a combination of hunger and

exposure to the harsh weather conditions in the inaccessible areas of Kedarnath Valley where

another 1,000 people were left stranded. Most of the deaths were recorded around the

Rambada and Junglechetti areas of the Kedarnath Valley, which were completely cut off main path. Flood victims faced an acute shortage of drinking water, food, shelter, and from access to basic resources and everyday goods. With IMHO’s support, SAWED Trust was able

to carry out the distribution of relief materials and supplies to the benefit of dozens of these flood victims in Uttarakhand.

Program Goal: To help the worst affected families to survive the floods through assistance with food and vital support. other

Objectives:

! Help the people to access basic food for 10 days ! Help the people to access basic non- food items

Geographic Area:

Rudraprayag District, Uttarakhand, India

Project Implementation: For this project, SAWED Trust made assessments across the entire Rudraprayag District and identified three (3) severely damaged villages (Tilwara, Agestmuni, Ginwala) and selected

forty-five (45) of the most affected families from these villages for food items assistance, and

seventy-one (71) of the most affected families for non-food items distribution.

Name of the # of Beneficiaries # of Beneficiaries for Total No

Village for Food Items Non-Food Items #

Tilwara 15 21 36 1 Agestmuni 15 25 40 2 Ginwala 15 25 40 3 45 71 116

Challenges:

1. Most of the areas we visited were heavily affected, so selecting the beneficiary

villages itself was a very challenging task.

2. Reaching the beneficiary villages was very difficult, as almost all of the villages

are in remote hills/hill terrain.

3. Relief material distribution was the biggest challenge. We mostly used a Jeep to

transport the relief materials/supplies.

44

Conclusion: The project was successfully implemented within the budget and with in the projected timeframe.

SAWED Trust and the beneficiary community wishes to thank IMHO USA for its

generosity in supporting us to implement this timely very urgent and needed project.

For more information on our organization and efforts, please visit www.sawedtrust.org.

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“Giving a Voice to Marginalized Deaf Youth in Ethiopia”

By: Mr. Gregory Buie & Dr. Elizabeth Finigan

Ethiopia is a low-income, underdeveloped country with a population of more than 93 million, ranking

173rd in the world on the Human Development Index. Aside from the many daily struggles faced by

millions of Ethiopians, having a disability adds an extra layer of hardship that makes even the most

routine activities difficult or impossible. Nationwide there is an extreme lack of services available to deaf community in particular. Regular challenges faced by the deaf in Ethiopia often include the the inability to access basic information or services, receive an education, communicate with the rest of

the world, hold a meaningful job or trade, and participate in basic community activities because of

stigma.

deaf community in Ethiopia has yet to organize effectively. A handful of local change-makers and The grassroots organizations and associations stand at the forefront of this pioneering work in developing

services for deaf education, empowerment, information delivery, medical care, and public awareness

raising for the estimated millions of deaf and hard-of-hearing persons in Ethiopia. However, a severe of resources, support, and experience have limited these activities to a few programs and locales, lack of which are focused in and around the capital city of Addis Ababa. most

Most deaf children in Ethiopia are either left out of the educational system entirely or are forced to learn alongside their hearing peers, in which case very little is actually absorbed. For those schools do have special classrooms set up for deaf students, nearly all only offer instruction for deaf that

youth up to Grade 4, at which point they are integrated with the rest of their peers. Subsequently, many do not continue their studies or, understandably, cannot keep up on account of language

barriers.

Another startling reality is that the age range of students in deaf classrooms varies

dramatically from young children all the way to adults. Reasons for this range from not knowing

about any school opportunities, being prevented from entering school due to stigma, rural isolation, poverty. and

Over the past several years of research, observations, planning, and efforts through repeated visits by IMHO volunteers, it has become quite clear that in order to organize and empower the Deaf

community in Ethiopia, three core areas must be addressed: 1) Education, 2) Livelihoods, and 3)

Advocacy/Public Awareness.

This past summer (August 2013), a team of 12 IMHO volunteers from the

U.S. descended on Ethiopia, spending 2

weeks working alongside our local

partners in conducting trainings and service work focused around “Deaf

Education and Empowerment”.

Volunteers shared their skills in

education, craft, community organizing, planning and sports, directly touching the lives of more than 200 deaf children and

adults.

Upon arrival in Addis Ababa, the team spent several days in the capital city meeting with

members of the Deaf Development and Information Association (DDIA), students and faculty at

Addis Ababa University, and other deaf leaders and professionals. IMHO volunteers coordinated and four half-day workshops at Addis Ababa University for more than 100 participants from across ran all walks of life. The workshops covered topics such as community organizing, goal setting, teaching and educational topics, interpreting, and "deafhood". The group then conducted a week-long summer camp for deaf children and young adults at Yekatit School 23 in Bahir Dar. The troupe of

Ethiopian deaf participants grew from around 32 youth last year to 56 this year, ranging in age from 6 to 27. The educational experience, as well as language capabilities, were as varied as the participants.

Volunteers conducted activities for the youth ranging from art, crafts, puzzles, games,

and sports to quiet reading and storytelling in sign language. The highlight of the day camp sessions

was a day-long field trip from Bahir Dar to Gondar, the old capital of Ethiopia and home to some of

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Ethiopia's most important historical sites. After a tour of the old castles, an exchange and lunch were

organized with another school for deaf children in Gondar.

Beyond the volunteer trip, IMHO’s commitment to Deaf

Education and Empowerment enabled the hiring of a deaf

teacher last year who had been formally trained in

Ethiopian Sign Language (EthSL) and obtained a B.A. in Deaf Education from Addis Ababa University. This teacher, Mr. Abel, has been working with the deaf children at Yekatit 23 School in Bahir Dar, a prominent city on the banks of Tana in the Amhara Region of Northwest Ethiopia, Lake

since March 2013. His salary has been guaranteed for a second year as well. This teacher, who otherwise would

likely still be unemployed on account of his being deaf

himself, has made a tremendous impact on the lives of the students whom he is helping to tutor.

Within the course of just the first 5 months of his employment, there was a marked improvement in

overall language ability, cognition, behavior, interest levels, and attendance amongst the 30+ children with whom he worked. In addition, the other teachers (who are not deaf and do not have formal EthSL training) also showed a dramatic improvement themselves in their sign language ability and

overall job satisfaction, and parents became much more engaged in their children’s education.

collaboration with this project, another organization, Visions Global Empowerment, has also In stepped into the picture and was able to provide the requisite funds for hiring a second deaf teacher,

Mr. Demelesh, at the school. These two young teachers are now collaborating together and hold

regular sessions for parents and teachers, in addition to providing tutoring and mentoring support to

approximately 60 students at the school and other local deaf young adults.

As a direct result of this project and efforts to lobby the school administration and local educational authorities, a

classroom was donated at the Yekatit 23 School for a deaf

resource room, the first such center of its kind in the

region. This new center now offers computer training,

parent courses in EthSL instruction and deaf-related topics, mentoring for deaf young adults, vocational

training assistance, and future training programs for deaf

children. In the future, we plan to conduct special

“empowerment” training camps for the deaf students and

teachers using this new deaf resource room and are looking forward to expanding our reach.

IMHO is also providing a stipend to the local project coordinator in Bahir Dar, Ms. Aynalem Ayalew, is a lecturer at Bahir Dar University and has been volunteering her time with the project for the who 1 year. She has been instrumental in the success of this project and has become a mentor to all past the deaf children and young adults and our two deaf teachers at the school. Investing in her and building her capacity has become a major objective as well.

Lastly, IMHO provided the seed funds to establish a small shop in front of the school as a livelihoods

development project to benefit 4 deaf young adults, several of whom are making and selling craft

items using the loads of in-kind supplies IMHO volunteers from the summer donated.

Looking to the future, we continue to have big plans, including support for more deaf teachers at

other schools with deaf students, development of a teacher manual and resources for working

specifically with deaf children, more livelihoods support for deaf young adults, and efforts to empower deaf community to organize on a grassroots level and eventually spearhead a public advocacy the campaign.

All of these efforts are helping to empower deaf Ethiopians to lead educated, independent,

healthy, and meaningful lives. We thank the IMHO community for your continued support and hope

you will continue to invest in this important work with us.

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Dong C. Park, MD Neurology

Harford Neurology Associates

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Best Wishes

to

IMHO

from

Aravinthan, Shamini, Ashvin,

Sachin & Govind Wijay

“To give before hearing “I lack” is

the mark of the well-born.”

~ Tirukkural

(Guide to Tamils’ Future)

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Our Sincere Thanks to

The Foundation for Hope Wijay Family Foundation For Your Generous Contributions and for Serving as A Lead Sponsor of the 11th Annual IMHO Convention and Music Concert Thank You! “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” –Margaret Meade

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