American Doctors Open Seenigama Clinic

In a personal effort to help with relief and rehabilitation efforts, four American friends and professional colleagues formed a non-for-profit organization called T-R-Y (Tsunami Relief and You). Their aim: to provide not just basic medical services but also preventative and specific post-traumatic intervention for the children affected by the tsunami.

Pediatricians Jugta Kahai and Deepa Bhojwani; Charles McWells, a water and wastewater management supervisor; and Tai Kulenic, a licensed art psychotherapist, raised funds and collected supplies with the tremendous support of various individuals, organizations and businesses. Three of the four hail from North Carolina so local TV and radio stations were contacted and helped by providing airtime to educate the local public about the efforts. Donations from as far as Florida made their way to the group.

“The outpouring of concern from my community was almost overwhelming,” Jugta said. “The local beach quilters guild donated almost a hundred handmade quilts and blankets for us to distribute to homeless and needy children, each inscribed with a personal handwritten message of love. It was touching to see how they just wanted to help Sri Lankans thousands of miles away, irrespective if the person being helped was a Muslim, Buddhist or Christian. It was people to people, minus the political divisiveness.”

On February 8th, the group left the United States for Sri Lanka; having been directed towards Kushil Gunasekera and his Foundation of Goodness in Seenigama.

Upon arrival in Seenigama, they set up a comprehensive pediatric clinic at the Foundation to assess and treat children from surrounding villages. The rooms were cleaned, painted and furnished with help from New Zealand’s Operation Phoenix team of builders.

“Initially I was not very convinced that there was a real need for the clinic”, Deepa said, “however, after just a few days of personally witnessing physical and mental wounds still raw from the Tsunami, all my doubts were dispelled. Now I want to ensure that the clinic will provide the best of care for years to come.”

When the doors of the Rainbow Clinic opened on February 16th -- the response was overwhelming. Jugta and Deepa treated children for various complaints. Tsunami related wounds were still evident. In addition, the clinic provided a referral source for children who would benefit from art psychotherapy.

Tai initiated group therapy, as well as one-on-one sessions for the identified traumatized child.

To ensure that this clinic will continue to reach those in need, the Sri Lanka College of Pediatricians has adopted the Rainbow Clinic and will provide services on an ongoing basis. Funds have been granted by Mr. Victor Castelino, a Colombo businessman, to employ a local social worker, Manoj Divituragama. He will oversee operations for the center. Medications, supplies including IV fluids, suture materials and emergency equipment were donated to the clinic and a computer was set up in an effort to provide fully electronic patient medical records.

In an attempt to provide outreach services, the team made some house calls to villagers who were afraid to leave their homes for fear of another tsunami. An example is a 1-week-old baby whose mother narrowly survived the tsunami and was terrified of taking the baby out of the house for the doctor’s appointment.

They donated children’s clothes, blankets and toys brought from the US. When one of the fathers asked for the worn out suitcase that carried these to use as a bed for his baby, it nearly broke their hearts. Students from schools in the US had sent friendship pins, drawing books and cards in an attempt to show their concern. Tai shook her head in amazement and said “ I am touched and changed forever” when she experienced how grateful the village children were just for a few sheets of paper, crayons and her attention. The children of Seenigama continuously showed their appreciation by showering them with friendship bracelets, shells and drawings.

Tai, an avid dog lover taught the children to cultivate love for animals. By the end of their trip, the kids were giving the dogs biscuits instead of throwing rocks. They also tended to some of the wounds of injured dogs.

Charlie supplied testing kits and water purification materials to ensure that the wells and water storage tanks were suitable for use. They bought a microscope and Charlie trained Manoj and another volunteer to identify water-borne contaminants. He also initiated lead testing as the rubble could be a significant source of lead poisoning.

“I personally feel prevention is the key to providing good medical services,” Charlie said. “If my efforts to train Manoj to test and treat water can prevent even a few children from getting ill, it’ll make my whole trip worthwhile.”

In addition to serving Seenigama, the team visited six orphanages in the area to distribute toys, clothes, blankets and money. While there, they were informed of additional needs such as underwear, bedsheets, cooking stove and fencing which our team was able to provide at a subsequent visit.

The team was also invited by Professor Manori Senanayake, president of the Sri Lanka College of Pediatricians, to give lectures to medical students, doctors, teachers and nurses at the Lady Ridgeway Children’s Teaching Hospital, Colombo.

In addition, Tai was approached and wrote an article on “Art Therapy for the Traumatized Child” to be included in the soon to be published book “Management of Children in Disaster Affected Situations”. Jugta will also be contributing chapters on “Emergency Pediatric Transportation” and “ Traumatic Brain Injuries in Children.”

The immediate goal was to provide the children of Seenigama and its surrounding villages’ with pediatric medical services. Long-term plans include ensuring sustainability and an improvement of the level of care with an emphasis on holistic healing by combining medical and psychological services at the same site.

It is an understatement to say that this trip has changed their lives forever. The outpouring of love and appreciation from the people that have undergone such sorrow and loss is indescribable. The T-R-Y four left with heartfelt, somewhat tearful good-byes. A union between the group, the Foundation and the people of Seenigama has been forged and we look forward to welcoming them back again soon.