While malnutrition and anaemia continue to affect tribal mothers and children in Attappady, the newly added infrastructural facilities at Government Tribal Specialty Hospital at Kottathara abysmally fail to meet the desired objectives.
The additional block at the only major health-care centre in the region was built at ₹3.5 crore. Seven infant deaths in the region since January 2017 have added to the demand for improving facilities at the hospital. The additional block has a male ward with 46 beds, 21 special rooms where admission would be reserved for those able to pay, a mini-conference hall, and space for installing an MRI CT scanner. As the ₹1.80 crore sanctioned for purchasing the scanning machine has been diverted for other purposes, the space allotted for it will remain vacant.
Infants sleep on floor
“What is the need for having 21 pay-and-use special rooms in a tribal hospital where even pregnant women and lactating mothers are sleeping on the floor for want of space. If the government had set up a ward for women and children in the space, it would have been a great help,” says tribal activist K.A. Ramu. Many tribalpeople who frequent the hospital say the hospital needs more beds and facilities for women and children.
“The male ward is not a priority in Attappady where an increased focus is needed on the reproductive health of tribal women. The conference hall is also not a priority. We have to immediately address the issue of women and infants sleeping on the floor,” said Maruthi, leader of Thaikula Sanghom, a tribal women’s collective.
From May 27
The new block will start functioning on May 27.
Health Minister K.K. Shylaja and Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Welfare Minister A.K. Balan will attend the function.
Meanwhile, the Palakkad district administration is seeking government sanction to construct two more floors for the hospital and increase the number of beds.
According to department officials, the hospital is facing a number of problems, including lack of specialists and technicians to operate devices.
“The existing practice of referring patients to hospitals in Coimbatore, Thrissur, and Palakkad should end,” said Rajendra Prasad of Thambu, a tribal organisation. He said improving facilities at the hospital and various primary health centres under it would be vital to check infant mortality.
