Around 30% of tribals, who mostly belong to the Malayali clan, in Jawadhu Hills, which spans Vellore, Tiruvannamalai and Tirupattur districts suffer from anaemia and malnutrition.
A team of specialist doctors have been working in remote tribal areas in the hills under Beyond Frontiers Trust, a Chennai based non-profit organisation, to provide free health care to tribals in Jawadhu Hills.
The team includes paediatrician, gynaecologist, orthopedist, cardiologist, ENT and general physician. “Most patients, who visit free medical camps organised by the trust, are women and senior citizens as men go for work to big towns and cities. Anaemia and malnutrition remain key health challenges among tribals in the hills,” said general physician Dr. S.C. Chandilya, founder of the trust.
In association with Srinivasan Services Trust (SST) of TVS Group, the trust has covered at least 60 remote tribal hamlets in the hills for the past few years. Tribals were reached through free medical camps organised in government schools in the area on weekends.
On Sunday, a medical camp was held at Government Middle School in Puliyur village. Around 250 tribals from at least 15 hamlets visited the camp for various ailments.
Identification of NCD (non-communicable diseases) among tribals is the focus of the camps as these diseases can be averted with better education and awareness. “We have also found thyroid cases among women. It might be due to iron deficiency,” said Dr. Radhabai Prabhu, retired director, Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
Other health issues commonly found among the tribal population include diabetes, hypertension, cervical and breast cancer, cataracts, and neurological conditions such as microcephaly and ataxia. Patients at the camps were not just treated and provided free medicines and tests. Health status of patients is followed regularly by a large team of health volunteers that work under SST in the hills.
Individual health cards were given to attendees. Verification of their health condition was also checked on a weekly basis. People with major health complications were referred to government headquarters hospitals for better care. “The health cards help us to show it to doctors at regular primary healthcare centres during emergencies. Apart from free medicines, the camps help us to understand the importance of nutrition in daily diet,” said B. Koppu, a tribal.
At present, Jawadhu Hills has around 229 hamlets with around 2.47 lakh persons. Most of the hamlets have sub-health centres. Big villages like Jamunamarathoor have upgraded PHC with surgery theatres.
Residents mentioned that due to a shortage of skilled healthcare professionals, including specialists, at these centrrs, free health services provided by voluntary organizations helped address their healthcare needs.
Published – March 23, 2025 08:15 pm IST
