Tribal Support – Medical Kits and Protein Powder
Over 10,000 tribal families are living in interior forest habitations of Bhadradri Kothagudem area in 149 habitations spread across 60kms radius. Many of these tribals (Gond Adivasis) had migrated from Chhattisgarh over last 30 to 40 years. These tribal people lack access to basic healthcare as the closest town Kothagudem is many kilometres away, while even the nearest Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) for most of them includes a long trek by foot before they reach the nearest road. “Malnutrition is the predominant issue. Infant mortality rate (IMR) and Maternal mortality rate (MMR) are high because women are forced to deliver at the hamlet itself. The risk is also high because many of them are anemic. Diarrhea, malaria and seasonal fevers are also common.
The malnutrition problem is so severe that it even causes night blindness in some cases due to Vitamin A deficiency. Pre-term deliveries are also common due to the malnutrition. This was resulting many deaths. To provide them with healthcare facilities and prevent malnutrition, Rural Hope Foundation has taken up the following two initiatives:
These kits provide vital Healthcare services to tribal families in interior forest habitations at Bhadradri Kothagudem. No medical facility is within 25-30 mile radius. Each kit contains BP apparatus, stethoscope, digital thermometer, fetal doppler, glucometer, pulse oximeter, weighing machine, Himoglobin meter..etc. Using these kits, trained health workers are providing maternal and child care services to pregnant women including antenatal care, postnatal care and safe deliveries. General healthcare services are provided to seniors as well with this kit. These kits are saving lives. Rural Hope Foundation is providing 1.8kgs of protein powder to each child, pregnant women and lactating mother that are affected with severe malnutrition in tribal habitations (protein powder is made with roasted Bengal gram, peanuts, wheat, jowar + jaggery powder). |
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