Decades of recurring epidemics and hundreds of Adivasi lives consumed by seasonal diseases in Adilabad have failed in making successive governments any wiser in tackling the problem.
Authorities have only blamed the poor and hapless tribal people of following ‘superstitious’ customs, but avoided creating awareness on the same so that the latter could avail the benefits of modern medicine.
“A concerted and comprehensive effort is needed when it comes to controlling deaths due to seasonal ailments like malaria and other viral fevers in the tribal villagers,” opines Atram Anand Rao, a teacher from Sirpur (U) mandal. “There is a severe lack of empathy among the officials involved in control of fevers,” he adds giving out a strong reason for Adivasis preferring quacks or traditional ‘vaids’ in their villages.
The medical staff needs to follow the example being set by the Project Officer of the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA), Utnoor, R.V. Karnan, according to Kanaka Seetaram of Pullara village in Sirpur (U) mandal.
“He enters our huts without any compunction exhibiting empathy with the poor villagers,” he points out as while talking for the need of empathy on the part of medical staff reaching out to the Adivasis in remote habitations.
The lack of compassion on the part of doctors and other medical staff has the tribal people shunning them and preferring quacks who have enough of that quality. Local quacks invariably maintain cordial relations with all tribal families in respective areas of operation and attend on patients regardless of the hour in the day.
‘Doctors rude to patients’
“The doctors and other medical staff at the primary health centres are also rude to the patients,” complains Atram Bapu Rao of Lendiguda in Jainoor mandal.
“Often, patients die because of the delay in treatment,” he points out another significant factor which has troubled the Adivasis.
Inquiry revealed that the time taken by technicians for issuing a report on the blood tests could even be two precious days. During this period, the patient was either given a presumptive treatment or had to wait till the treatment is given.
