Miscarriages and neonatal mortality continue to stalk the tribal hamlets in Attappady.
Three cases of neonatal mortality were reported last week from the Vellakulam, Nellipathy, and Kottamala tribal hamlets.
More than 300 such cases were reported from Attappady in the past four years despite the State and the Centre announcing special packages to address the issue.
Anaemic, underweight
Meanwhile, Health Department officials said 536 pregnant women in the tribal hamlets were facing health issues attributed to malnutrition. About 40 per cent of them were anaemic and underweight, the officials said, adding that some had high blood pressure.
In the absence of a government monitoring system, even the nutritious meal scheme to ensure better care of pregnant women, lactating mothers, and infants had lost steam. At most of the centres opened for the purpose, the beneficiaries complained that they seldom got eggs and milk.
Food once a day
At most hamlets, under the grip of poverty and drought, pregnant women were getting food only once a day.
The increasing water scarcity in the rain-shadow region has not only affected drinking water availability but also personal hygiene. Lack of storage facilities in each hamlet is also making the water crisis severe.
Financial assistance from the Scheduled Tribes and Social Welfare Departments for pregnant tribal women has been pending for months.
In the three neonatal deaths reported last week, mothers were anaemic and underweight.
‘A disconnect’
M. Sukumaran of the Attappady Samrakshana Samithy says the deaths indicate the disconnect between the health packages meant for Attappady and the people there.
“There is a systematic failure in Attappady despite several crores of rupees being pumped in for the benefit of the poor. Outreach programmes are seldom happening. Hamlet visits are rare owing to lack of community social workers. There is a dearth of vehicles and ambulances despite availability of funds,” he says.
10,000 families
Attappady has 10,000 tribal families belonging to the Irula, Muduga, and Kurumba tribes in 192 ‘oorus’ (settlements) scattered over three panchayats.
The recent transfer of Integrated Tribal Development Project officer P.V. Radhakrishnan and police liaison officer Krishnankutty has affected the monitoring of the government schemes, local people say.
Nutritious meal scheme loses steam
Financial aid pending for months
