Community health Department in this institution had started functioning from the very inception of the Hospital with various preventive and curative health activities at Mazhuvanoor, Karukappilly and Avunda villages. As part of the social commitment of this institution to provide quality and cost effective health care to the under privileged and vulnerable population Community Health Centres started functioning and the services were welcomed and accepted by the community. The Department of Community Health was formally inaugurated by the then President of India His Excellency Shri. V.V. Giri on 3rd February 1972.
The Department had participated in path breaking activities like Village Vitality project with the support of EvangelisteZentralstelle fur Entwicklungshilfe E.V. (EZE) Germany at, Kunnakurudy, Kunnackal and Kandanad in Jnauary 1985. Major activities of this project were –
- Primary health and Special health (Maternal health, child health, family planning, low cost curative programme, vector control, Free TB and Psychiatric treatment, Handicap rehabilitation, etc)
- Improvement of drinking water (chlorination and well protection)
- Socio-economic development Programme (Goat bank, Piglet, Mini loan, Fertilizer subsidy. Crop loan, New House Sponsoring scheme (38 houses sponsored from the department)
In January 1985 Department launched Community Health Volunteers Scheme in which different health centers identified 20 community health volunteers from among the respective community and provided ongoing training. Later along with the expansion of the project area, volunteer’s number also increased to 50. They are the grass root level workers.
In January 1987 - Village Development Unit Proogramme (Organization, monitoring and evaluation of Mahilasamajam, Youth clubs and Balasamajam) was launched with the aid and support of EZE. This Village Development units are responsible to select beneficiaries for New Well, Cattle shed, house maintenance, cash crop seedlings distributions and organizing yearly Vanitha Arts and Sports competition.
In January 1992 - Swasraya Credit Union Scheme was launched with the learning experience from the small saving scheme, Swasraya Credit Union started in January 1992 instead of small savings scheme. About 8000 members joined in this project during the period of 24 years.
In November 1993 - Mediclaim Insurance Scheme for credit union members and their family started in 1993 by the department in association with National Insurance Company Kolenchery Branch and United India Insurance Company, Thripunithura Branch. Insurance project was continued till March 2016. 1, 32,603 members (cumulative number of 23 years) benefitted from this programme.
In January 1998 - Project SALAAM started. Project Save Life Avoid AIDS Movement was commenced with the financial support of Kerala AIDs Control Society (CACS).
In January 2000 – Good News for Cancer Breast (An early detection programme for cancer breast) Cancer Control and Health Education Project was started under National Cancer Control Programme Under this project, early detection camps, awareness programmes and an initial survey was done in five Panchayath of Vadavucode block to identify cases.
In July 2001 - Community Based Palliative Care Project was started in our field practicing area and in and around Kolenchery with the financial support of CMAI and Dr. Marlin, Forest Pines, an NGO in Australia. Later this project was supported by SHADE (a registered community project under the Community medicine department).
In 2003, a community organization named SHADE (Self Help Association for Development and empowerment) was registered and Swasraya credit unions, Mediclaim Insurance Project, Community Palliative Care Project, Dr.Valsa memorial Endowment fund and SWAD (Social Wellfare Activities for Development) project activities (Free psychiatry medicine subsidy, Goat bank & Goat Insurance, Nutrition programme, Cancer medicine subsidy) were functioned under this project. All this activities continued till March 2016 at Kunnackal, Kunnakurudy, Kandanad, Vettickal and Nechoor.
Besides that the department had conducted Community Living programme with the MBBS students from 2003 to 2019.
During the devastating floods of 2018 the Department coordinated 32 flood relief medical camps in Ernakulam and Alleppy district as per request from community, various NGO, religious organization and MalayalaManorama and Health service during the period
The Department is committed to extend its services to the vulnerable and underprivileged population. It is due to the long standing and sustained community based projects Community Medicine department in this institution has developed a deep trust in the community. That is why Local Panchyats, Government PHCs,Self - Help Groups, NGOs, Cultural and Religious Organizations usually extend their hand to jointly venture in many innovative health programmes. Innovative health promotive activities with maximum community participation has always been the goal of this department and in future also it would be so.
