Introduction:
Community Medicine is a successor of what was previously known as Social and Preventive Medicine. It is the speciality which deals with population and comprises those doctors who try to measure the needs of the population, both sick and well, who plan and administer services to meet those needs, and those who are engaged in research and teaching in the field.
Department of Community Medicine:
The academic capacity and activities of the Department of Community Medicine at Government Medical College Tiruppur have gradually increased. The department actively participates in community health programmes, such as screening for non-communicable illnesses and health education in both rural and urban regions, in addition to offering undergraduate education. In collaboration with rural health training centre, specialised clinics and mobile health camps are also offered in rural areas where healthcare is inaccessible. The department aids in the implementation of National Programmes.
The Department observes important health days and events. Numerous community-based initiatives are organised, and interns and students take an active part in them. The medical undergraduate (MBBS) students receive public health training through interactive lecture classes, field trips, and visits to rural and urban health centres where they actively participate in family adoption programme, family surveys, field trips and special visits to PHCs, sub-centres, and ICDS centres. The department occasionally also holds workshops on the fundamentals of research methods.
Undergraduate:
Undergraduate teaching as per CBME curriculum is incorporated for all student. Lectures, small group discussions, self-directed learning, seminars, roleplay are conducted to undergraduates. Postings in Health training centres help them to get an idea of primary health care which is the first level of contact between the general public and health care system. They are trained on principles of health education and communication which helps them to become an Indian Medical Graduate.
Family adoption programme is implemented for all the students as per NMC guidelines. One student is allotted five families which has to be followed up for three years. The changes in demography and health status/ events will be monitored and the report will be generated at the end of three years. This will help them understand the concept of family physician and importance of primary health care. It also ensures a healthy bond between the community and the medical students.
The Department of Community Medicine strives to achieve the competencies for Indian Medical Graduate as per NMC norms.
The undergraduate must be competent in:
- Understanding of the concept of health and disease
- Understanding of demography, population dynamics and disease burden in National and global context.
- Comprehension of principles of health economics and hospital management
- Understanding of interventions to promote health and prevent diseases as envisioned in National and State Health Programmes
Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship (CRMI):
CRMIs are posted in rural and urban health centres, where they receive training in the principles of public health and discover the numerous elements influencing health status. They participate in a variety of outreach initiatives, including family surveys, special clinics, and health education initiatives. At the end of postings, all CRMIs will be capable of administrating a Primary health centre.
District Residency Program:
Under District Residency Programme, MD Community Medicine Postgraduates are posted for 3 months in the Department of Community Medicine. They are trained on National Health Programmes, health planning and management, basic biostatistics and epidemiology, special clinics. Regular pedagogy sessions and journal clubs are being conducted in the department.
Rural and Urban Health Training Centres:
- Rural health training centre- Government Perumanallur PHC
- Urban health training centre- TSK Urban PHC
Activities done:
- Undergraduate teaching
- CRMI training
- DRP training
- Family adoption programme
- Visit to CHC/PHC/HSC
- Health education to general public
- Field visits
- Rally- National Leprosy Day 30.01.2023 awareness activities
A rally was conducted to generate awareness for Leprosy on behalf of the Department of Community Medicine on 30.01.2023 at 12 pm. MBBS students, nursing students and CRMIs of Government Medical College Tiruppur participated in the rally.
WORLD HEALTH DAY CME 2024
- Quiz activities-
IAPSM- WHD- QUIZ- 2024
In view of World Health Day, which is celebrated every year on April 7, Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College Tiruppur, participated in the nationwide IAPSM-WHD-QUIZ-2024 with the aim to sensitize MBBS students on the theme “My Health, My Right.”
Winners:
First place- SHREENITHI A M (III MBBS), KAUYA M (III MBBS), KARANKUMAR. T (III MBBS)
Second place- SHOAIB AHMED N (III MBBS), SHARATH SRINIVASAN R (III MBBS), AVENTHIKA S (III MBBS)
Third place- UDHAYA CUMAAR (III MBBS), KIRTHICK S (III MBBS), DHANYA (III MBBS)
IAPSM-WHD-QUIZ-2023
In view of World Health Day, which is celebrated every year on April 7, Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College Tiruppur, participated in the nationwide IAPSM-WHD-QUIZ-2023 with the aim to sensitize MBBS students on the theme “Health for All”
First prize- Shoaib Ahmed N, Sharath Srinivasan R, Sanjay M
- Paper/ poster presentation in Conferences by CRMI
The Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College Tiruppur strive to inculcate communication skills, managerial and leadership qualities required for CRMIs, so as to lead and perceive themselves as a Resolute Health professional. 7 CRMIs presented in PREVENCON 2023, National conference.
Prizes won:
NATCON- 2024- International Conference
Best poster presentation- Tamil Amuthan, II year MBBS
PREVENCON 2023- National Conference
- Best oral presentation- V. Prasannakumar, CRMI
- Best poster presentation- S. Ragul Raja, CRMI
World Health Day 2024 – Competition for students:
In view of World Health Day 2024, Department of Community Medicine conducted events for MBBS students for creating awareness on the theme My Health, My Right. Photography, Short film, face painting and speech were the competitions conducted.
Winners of competition:
PHOTOGRAPHY
1 AJAY – I MBBS
2 RAJESH – CRMI
3 GAYATHRI – CRMI
SHORT FILM
- CRMI team
- III MBBS team
- I MBBS team
FACE PAINTING
- DIVYA DARSHINI – III MBBS
- MARY SUJITHA – CRMI
- PRAVIN VASANTH – 1 MBBS
SPEECH
- KAMALEE N J – III MBBS
- SHREENITHI A M – III MBBS
- INDUPRIYA – III MBBS
- Research activities done:
Faculty are actively involved in both hospital-based and community based (rural and urban) research projects. At the primary health centres and in the community level, community-based research is conducted in the form of field studies, occupational studies, and evaluation surveys.
The main areas include: Non-communicable diseases, communicable diseases, vector-borne diseases, Maternal and Child health, immunisation, mental health, occupational health, geriatric health, evaluation of national health programmes, health planning and management.
Completed projects:
- Evaluation of NCD care cascade under ‘Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam’ in Tamilnadu – a cross-sectional study
- Verification of Claims for Sub-National Certification of Progress Towards TB Free Status for the year 2022- Tiruppur District
- A cross sectional study to assess the awareness of rabies among dog bite victims attending primary health center, Tiruppur
- Prevalence of obesity and hypertension among women over 35 years of age attending the outpatient department in the community health center, Perumanallur of Tiruppur district and their knowledge, attitude, practice regarding obesity and hypertension
- Knowledge and prevalence regarding refractive error among population attending the outpatient department in ophthalmology department, Tiruppur
- Prevalence of osteoarthritis of knee and its associated risk factors among late middle age population (45 – 60 years) at Perumanallur, Pongalur & TSK primary health center, Tiruppur.
- Diabetes self-care activities among adult diabetic patients attending medical OPDs of primary health care centers of Tiruppur district
- A study on PMS among undergraduate female students in a Tertiary care hospital, Tiruppur
- A study on quality of life among geriatric population attending primary health center in Tiruppur district.
Upcoming projects:
- Awareness and usage of artificial intelligence among medical college students in Tiruppur- a cross sectional study.
- Knowledge, attitude and awareness towards cadaveric organ donation among paramedical workers in Government Medical College and Hospital, Tiruppur.
- Challenges faced by FMG’s after graduation and during internship
- Quality of life among tuberculosis patients attending PHCs in Tiruppur- a cross sectional study
- Knowledge, attitude and practice about exclusive breastfeeding
- Knowledge attitude and practice on No Scalpel Vasectomy (NSV) among married men of age group above 21 years in rural part of Tiruppur- a cross sectional study.
List of Faculty in Department of Community Medicine:
- Head of the Department: Dr. Sreesupria. PR, MD Community Medicine
- Associate Professor: Dr. Varun Kumar, MD Community Medicine
- Associate Professor: Dr. P. M. Siva, MD Community Medicine
- Assistant Professor: Dr. I. Ilavarasan, MD Community Medicine
- Assistant Professor: Dr. E. Cowshik, MD Community Medicine, Diploma in Public Health, DNB (CM)
- Assistant Professor: Dr. R. Abel Rodger Nayagam, MD Community Medicine
- Tutor: Dr. Srigowtham Subramaniam, MD Community Medicine
- Tutor: Dr. G. Bagyalakshmi, MD Community Medicine
- Tutor: Dr. Monica. K, MD Community Medicine
- Tutor: Dr. S. Abipriya, MD Community Medicine
