INTRODUCTION
The Department of Community Medicine at Dr Shankarrao Chavan Government Medical College was established in 1988 with the primary objectives of disease prevention and health promotion. The discipline encompasses a wide range of public health concerns, including nutrition, vector-borne diseases, insecticides, environmental health and pollution control, population dynamics, fertility regulation, genetic counselling, and the prevention and control of chronic, geriatric, and occupational diseases.
Over the years, the Department of Community Medicine has evolved significantly and continues to adapt to emerging public health challenges and societal needs. It serves as a vital link between medical education and public health services, playing a pivotal role in the training of undergraduate and postgraduate medical students. In alignment with the guidelines of the National Medical Commission (formerly Medical Council of India) and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the department strives to make medical education more community-oriented and responsive to the health needs of the country.
VISION
MISSION
The Department of Community Medicine is actively working to improve the health and well-being of the population through a comprehensive healthcare approach grounded in the four pillars of healthcare: preventive, promotive, curative, and rehabilitative services. The department is committed to providing quality education, fostering research activities, and promoting a practical understanding of disease prevention and health promotion.
Academic Programmes Offered
CORE COMPETENCIES
Facilities
UG & PG Research Laboratory
The laboratory facilitates various public health procedures, including water quality analysis. It also serves as a training facility for undergraduate and postgraduate practical sessions.
Departmental Library
The department maintains a well-equipped library with an extensive collection of textbooks, reference materials, journals, and other academic resources.
Demonstration Rooms
Two demonstration rooms are available for conducting teaching-learning activities and academic programmes, including small group discussion, focused group discussion, demonstration, etc for undergraduate and postgraduate students
Public Health Museum
The museum displays models and exhibits of public health importance along with posters highlighting the significant contributions of eminent scientists to the advancement of public health.
In this department training is given to Undergraduate students regarding various aspects of social heath, for certain period of time. These trainings are given in the form of lectures, practicals, experiments, seminars. Field visits to Educational and Research institutes are also carried out. Most important aspect is that this department has started Urban Health Training Center (U.H.T.C) and Rural Health Training Center R.H.T.C which provides health services and health education to rural population and slums.
It is mandatory to complete 1 year internship after passing MBBS. Internship includes two months of training under the department of Community Medicine. Interns are posted at UHTC and RHTC as per the guidelines of MCI & MUHS, Nashik. This kind of training help the student to understand various problems of slum and rural area. They are trained to provide health services and health education impartially to the population, which will be beneficial for their future.
As per the Indian Medical Council guidelines, admission are given for three MD seats every year. So, total nine post graduate students are working in the department each year. All the PG students are provided training in the form of health training, group discussion, health services, referral services and field visits so that they learn new skills and prove their skills in Health administration, guidance and planning in future. During the three year of postgraduate training a PG student has to submit Dissertation and one published Research paper compulsorily as per the guidelines of MUHS.
The Government of Maharashtra has decided to start Master of Public Health (Nutrition) MPH(N) from academic year 2018-19. Permission was granted for 20 seats for this institute. All the MPHN students are provided teaching and training in the form of health training, health services and field visits so that they learn new skills and prove their skills in Health administration, guidance and planning in future.
All the modern pharmacology students are provided teaching and training in the form of health training, group discussion, health services, referral services and field visits so that they learn new skills. They are posted in the departments of Pediatrics, Medicine, Pharmacology and Community Medicine to equip their knowledge
Department of Community Medicine has state-of-the-art facilities for the training of undergraduate and postgraduate students. The department has been involved in planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of health programs and activities in the local community. The department has a rich experience of handling various research projects.
Department of community medicine is having the following divisions in it:
Departmental Library:
The departmental library has various textbooks and reference books.
Departmental Museum:
The departmental museum has models, mounted models, wooden charts, banners, posters, catalogues are available for undergraduate & post graduate teaching, training& conducting IEC activities in the community.
Public health laboratory:
Facilities for staining procedures, water quality assessment and food adulteration assessment and microscopic examination assessment are available for undergraduate & post graduate teaching, training &research
Immunoprophylaxis clinic and Anti-rabies vaccination clinic
The IPC/ARV clinic is situated at 1st floor of OPD building with OPD no. 129. This clinic provides the immunization for children under 5 years of age, covid vaccination and antirabies vaccine for the cases of animal bites under the guidance of department of community medicine. Health education for breast feeding, child nutrition, immunization, family welfare, anti-rabies vaccine is also provided.
Urban health training Centre, Shivajinagar, Nanded
In order to carry out teaching and training of undergraduate medical students, interns and residents doing MD Community Medicine, Urban health training Centre has been established by Community Medicine Department Dr S.C.G.M.C in Shivajinagar in collaboration with Nanded-Waghala Municipal Corporation which is about 8 k.m. from the parent institute. This Centre is under the control of Dean Dr S.C.G.M.C and Assistant professors department of community medicine Dr S.C.G.M.C, Nanded. Trainings are given for undergraduate, post graduate and interns at UHTC. Field practice of UHTC Nanded includes the population of 50000 to whom various health services are provided by UHTC. Timings of OPD Services are between 8.30 a.m-1:00 pm. Along with that various speciality services also provided to the patients by specialty health officers or doctors at Municipal corporation hospital and Dr S.C.G.M.C. Nanded.
Rural Health Training Centre, Mudkhed, Dist. Nanded
RHTC, Mudkhed is located at a distance of 23.5 K.M. from Dr S.C. government medical college, Nanded which had been established and run by collaboration of Dr. S.C.G.M.C., Nanded and Public health department. At RHTC, various services of OPD, IPD, Lab services, Family welfare programme and other national health program are provided. Undergraduate, Interns and post graduate students are being trained for educational visits, research projects at field, health and education related work under the guidance of specialists at RHTC.