The Work of Community Health Workers

Every community health centre has a Manager. There are also community health workers, trainees and a housekeeper. They are transferred from one centre to another to give them an opportunity to experience different customs and environment island wide. Dr. Diyanath Samarasinghe, is Nest’s Honorary Director of Training. As many who have met Nest’s community health workers say, the best way to experience Nest’s style of training is to get to know a member of staff. Emphasis is on a healthy way of living both for staff and the people they reach. Training is ongoing and the most important component is through regular formal and informal discussions among themselves.

Work includes visiting state hospitals, state Certified Schools and Detention Homes; reducing  addictions, such as alcohol and substance abuse; links with state and private psychosocial services, organisations and Gramarajya (village); concern for people stigmatised & labelled; caring for others; deciding who to give cash grants to for a small business to begin at home; helping people living in remote areas to travel to clinics, consultations and emergency admission to Hospital; helping state schools in isolated and deprived areas and improve conditions, such as toilets, libraries, first aid kits and support teachers; share information on mental health by telephone, personal callers to centres and correspondence; conduct training programmes and road-side stands to disseminate literature on well-being, harmful addictions and behaviour;  HIV and AIDS; and, run workshops and awareness programmes for medical students, youth, trainee Public Health Midwives, state trainee nurses, and others.

Community Health Centres

Colombo District

Occupational Therapy Centre, Unit 2, Mulleriyawa Mental Hospital, Mulleriyawa.

Manager Mrs. Prianganie Wanniarachchi

Telephone: 011 4937591

Gampaha District

Manager Mr. Sisira Jayenti

Kåre House, 241 Beach Road, Palliyewatte, Hendala, Wattala. Telephone: 011 2931680

Kandy District

Manager Mr. Priyanthe Gunasinghe

Dumbara Gedera, 434/154 Kiripattiya Road,

Kanahampitiya, Mediwaka, Udadumbara.

Telephone: 081-5622003

Kurunegela District

Manager Mrs. Manel Jaysinghe

Telephone: 0724493118

Galle District

Manager: Ms. Wasanthi Abeygunewardene

Telephone: 0776952191