About Department of Community Medicine
Community Medicine, as a branch of medicine and a major subject of MBBS course, deals with the health and disease of the population. It has now become a growing point in Medicine, and in some aspects, ranges far beyond the medical field as it deals with understanding the impact of social, economic, ecological, philosophical and political factors on health and disease.
Owing to rapid globalization, industrialization, erratic climatic changes, pollution, changes in population dynamics, advancement in the medical field, and complexity in the dynamics of disease transmission, the scope of Community Medicine has grown widely. It is no longer confined to hygiene, sanitation, vaccinations and quarantine, all of which are associated with communicable diseases. It also encompasses nutrition, vectors, insecticides, pollution-free environment, population explosion, fertility control and genetic counselling, besides addressing preventive aspects of chronic diseases such as degenerative disorders and occupational diseases.
It is an expansion of the humanitarian tradition in medicine and includes patient care, prevention of disease, and administration of medical services cited in the principles of Primary Health Care.
The emergence of Preventive Paediatrics, Preventive Geriatrics, Preventive Cardiology and Epidemiology & Management reflect newer trends in the scope of specialization in Community Medicine.
Preventive Medicine is equally concerned with the development of effective referral services at secondary and tertiary levels of health care, forming an important link between tertiary care hospitals and public health services.
It plays a vital role in the medical education of undergraduates, emphasizing inclusion of management principles at different levels, with a final thrust on understanding community dynamics and community diagnosis — keeping in mind equitable distribution, community participation, appropriate technology and inter-sectoral coordination.
Finally, the inclusion of the spiritual dimension in the strategy for “Health For All” calls for a holistic approach not only to health and disease, but to life itself — widening the scope of Community Medicine over wider horizons.
- To develop public health specialists equipped with adequate knowledge, requisite skills and appropriate behavioural attributes for efficient health planning, management, education and research.
- To create a community in which members are physically, mentally, socially and spiritually sound, so that they contribute to the development of the society they live in, through professional education, service and research.
To enhance the knowledge, attitude and skills of the students in the field of Community Medicine and empower them to:
- Apply the principles and process of health management to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of national health programs
- Plan, organize, implement, monitor or evaluate the outcome and impact of health care programmes and services
- Acquire epidemiological skills to understand the dynamics of transmission of common communicable diseases for prevention and control
- Identify, through community diagnosis, the social, cultural, environmental and psychological factors influencing health behaviour
- Integrate diagnosis and management know-how with public health practice and health communication
- Critically appraise national health policies, priorities and approaches
- Plan, organize, implement and evaluate teaching/learning sessions; design research protocols and analyse bio-medical, epidemiological, social and health service data
- Apply knowledge of epidemiology and bio-statistics to interpret reports and publications
Admin
a) Name & Designation of Faculties
| S.No | Name | Designation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dr. K. Chellavel Ganapathi, MD | Professor & HOD |
| 2 | Dr. J. Balaji, MD | Associate Professor |
| 3 | Dr. M. Megala, MD | Assistant Professor |
| 4 | Dr. S. Dhana Lakshmi, MD, DPH | Assistant Professor |
| 5 | Dr. J. Gurukartick, MD | Assistant Professor |
| 6 | Dr. K. Udhayabashkaran, MD | Assistant Professor |
| 7 | Dr. S. Rajesh Kanna, MD | Assistant Professor cum Epidemiologist |
| 8 | Dr. S. Ramya, MD | Assistant Professor (UHTC) |
| 9 | Dr. N.P. Rubesh Sharma, MD | Assistant Professor (RHTC) |
| 10 | Mr. Shankar | Statistician |
| 11 | Mr. Kannan, MSc | Lecturer in Medical Entomology |
b) Address for Communication
HOD & Professor, Department of Community Medicine, GMKMC, Salem‑30
c) Department Email
gmkmcslm.communitymedicine@gmail.com
d) Website In-charge
Dr. M. Megala, MD
Services Provided / Facilities Available
a) Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam (MTM Clinic)
The working hours of the MTM Clinic are between 8 A.M. and 5 P.M.
Services
Screening of all persons above the age of 18 years for:
- NCD risk factors
- Diabetes Mellitus (DM)
- Hypertension (SHT)
- CA Cervix / Breast / Oral Cavity
- Behaviour change communication
- Referral back of uncomplicated cases to PHC for community-based care at doorstep level
- Collection and compilation of MTM data and uploading into the MTM portal
b) Primary Health Centres — Rural PHC
The peripheral Primary Health Centre located at Tharamangalam, 12 km away from the college, is affiliated to the Department of Community Medicine. CMRIs are posted to the centre and trained in Public Health and Preventive Medicine in a rural set-up.
- Daily OPD — 150–200
- Total population covered — 42,383
Urban PHC
The Urban Primary Health Centre located at Ammapet, 15 km away from the college, is also affiliated to the department. CMRIs are posted to the centre and trained in Public Health and Preventive Medicine in an urban set-up.
- Total population covered — 58,631
- Daily OPD — 70–100
Services Provided at Primary Health Centres
- Public health administration and management of the PHC
- Health education regarding prevailing health problems and methods of prevention and control
- Health promotion on food and nutrition
- Monitoring safe water supply and basic sanitation of villages
- Maternal and child health care, including family planning
- Immunization against major health diseases
- Prevention and control of locally endemic diseases
- Appropriate treatment of common diseases and injuries
- Provision of essential drugs
- School health and adolescent health
- Implementation, monitoring and evaluation of various National Health Programmes
- Observation of Public Health Days
Academic Activities / Teaching Programme
Under Graduate Students — MBBS
- First Year
- Second Year
- Final Year Part‑I
- C.R.M.I. & Nursing Students
UG Teaching Programme
- Theory / Block posting classes for MBBS students
- 40 hours for First Year
- 60 hours for Second Year
- 100 hours for Pre-final Year
- 75 days of clinical posting
C.R.M.I. Teaching Programme
All undergraduate students undergo training in Community Medicine during their internship for a period of 13 weeks.
Nursing Students Teaching Programme
| Basic B.Sc. & 1st Year Post B.Sc. | One hour theory class per week (60 hrs/year) |
| Basic B.Sc. & 2nd Year Post B.Sc. | Three hours class per week (100 hrs/year) |
| Practical | 60 hours per year — Total 160 hours per year |
Research Activities / Projects
- An exploratory study on physical activity patterns among college students
- Study of obsessive compulsive disorder among college students
- Impact of television and other electronic gadgets on school children
- Prevalence of low birth weight infants
- Hygiene among adolescents in rural areas
- Hypertension and risk factors in rural areas
- Immunization coverage in rural population
- Assessment of depression among elderly
- Study of health-seeking behaviour among rural population
- Awareness of mosquito control measures in rural population
Projects Done in the Department
- A community health needs assessment and impact evaluation among the areas surrounding JSW, Mecheri
- Morbidity profile of respondents residing around industrial areas of Mecheri
Field Activities & Training
The department organizes visits to places of public health importance every year for MBBS students, including:
- Water Treatment Plant at Komburankadu, Mettur Dam
- Institute of Vector Control and Zoonoses, Hosur
- Aavin Milk Dairy, Thalavaipatti
Every year the Department of Community Medicine actively undertakes field activities such as conducting camps in coordination with public health during monsoon and outbreaks, and observing National Health Days of public health importance. Students are motivated and involved in these activities to improve their knowledge of community health care planning and implementation, promote teamwork and leadership, and improve communication skills.
Epidemic Monitoring & Control
During the COVID‑19 pandemic, the Department of Community Medicine played a vital role as part of the hospital disinfection core committee and the Rapid Response Team.
Disinfection Activity
- Educating health care workers on disinfection methods and appropriate usage of disinfectants
- Usage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Monitoring rational usage of disinfectants and spraying activities
- Coordinating with Salem Corporation on hospital infection control activities
Training & Sensitization for Usage of PPE
Doctors, staff nurses, allied health care professionals and sanitary workers involved in the care of patients in the SARI ward, COVID suspects ward, and COVID positive/negative wards were trained to wear PPE — shoe cover, water-resistant gowns, appropriate masks, head hood, goggles and gloves — before entering the ward. The department was also involved in training health care officials of the Corporation and staff of the Directorate of Public Health.
Other Awareness Activities
Dengue Awareness Rally, World Health Day, Monsoon Camp, NCD Awareness, Breast Cancer & BSE Awareness, and Health Education programmes.
Publications
Dr. K. Chellavel Ganapathi, MD — Professor & HOD
Internet Addiction and Associated Factors: A Study Among College Students in South India — Innovative Journal of Medical and Health Science, Vol 5, No 3
A Study on the Prevalence of Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) Among Medical Undergraduate Students and Its Relation with Self-Esteem — Stanley Medical Journal, Vol 3, Issue 4
A Cross-Sectional Study of Anemia Among Women of Reproductive Age Group (15–49 Years) in a Rural Population of Tamil Nadu — International Journal of Medical Science and Public Health, Vol 6, Issue 3
A Study on Prevalence, Awareness, Treatment and Control of Hypertension in a Rural Community of Salem, Tamil Nadu — International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health, Vol 4, Issue 6
A Study of Prevalence of Myopia and Its Associated Factors in School Children of Salem, Tamil Nadu — International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health, Vol 4, Issue 8
A Cross-Sectional Study to Assess the Knowledge and Attitude About Non-Scalpel Vasectomy in Practice Among Females of Reproductive Age Group in Urban Slum, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 2014 — International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health, Vol 5, Issue 1
A Study on Prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease and Its Risk Factors Among Adults in Selected Slums of Chennai — International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health, Vol 6, Issue 2
Dr. M. Megala — Assistant Professor
Prevalence of Hypertension and Its Risk Factors Among Transport Workers in South India — International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health, Vol 7, Issue 4
A Study on Prevalence of Refractive Error and Its Associated Factors Among School Children in Tamil Nadu — International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health, Vol 7, Issue 5
Epidemiology of Undernutrition in Irular Tribal Preschool Children in Sengam, Tamil Nadu, India — Social Determinants of Health, Vol 8, Issue 1
Effectiveness of Health Education in Improving Menstrual Hygiene Knowledge and Practices Among Adolescent Girls of Rural Area of Tamil Nadu, India — Healthline Journal, Vol 13, Issue 2
Dr. S. Dhanalakshmi — Assistant Professor
A Study on the Prevalence of Acute and Chronic Malnutrition and Influence of Feeding Practices Among 6-Month to 2-Year Children in Rural Field Practice Area of Kilpauk Medical College, Tamil Nadu — International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health, Vol 6, Issue 3
Knowledge and Practices Regarding Foot Care Among Diabetic Patients Residing in Mecheri Taluk, Salem, Tamil Nadu — International Journal of Family Medicine and Public Health, Vol 1, Issue 1
A Cross-Sectional Study on Menstrual Hygiene Knowledge and Practices Among Adolescent Girls in Tribal Population in South India — International Journal of Family Medicine and Public Health, Vol 1, Issue 1
Dr. S. Ramya — Tutor
A Cross-Sectional Study of Mental Health Status of Rural School-Going Students in Late Adolescent Period in Southern India — Indian Journal of Neonatal Medicine and Research, Vol 9, Issue 3
Knowledge About Kangaroo Mother Care Among Mothers and Grandmothers — A Cross-Sectional Study in a Neonatal Follow-Up Clinic of a Tertiary Care Hospital in Tamil Nadu, India — Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, Vol 15, Issue 10
Dr. N.P. Rubesh Sharma — Tutor
Electronic Medical Decision Support System in Achieving Sustainable Development Goal Health Targets on Non-Communicable Diseases: A Systematic Review — International Journal of Health Sciences, Vol 6, Issue 3
Other Information
- Paper / Poster Presentation — Nil
- Awards / Medals / Prizes — Nil
- CME — Nil
- Publications / Patents — available as hyperlink (see Publications section above)