Tribal health
Tribal Communities in general and primitive tribes in particular are highly disease prone after colonisation of A & N Islands and also they do not have required access to health facilities. They are Vulnerable to disease with high degree of morbidity and Mortality. Their misery is compounded by illiteracy, ignorance of cause of disease, hostile environment, poor sanitation lack of safe drinking water, lack of health seeking behaviour and their habitation, stay in remote & Inaccessible thick forest. Some of the preventable disease such as Hepatitis B, Tuberculosis, Malaria, Gastroenteritis, Helmenthiasis, measles, skin diseases, malnutrition, Anaemia and dental problems are well known public health problems among the tribes. Therefore, there is a separate Tribal Health Section is functioning in Directorate of Health Services for implementation of preventive, Promotive and Curative health services for the healthy survival and wellness of Scheduled tribes of A & N Archipelago.
The Andaman Adim Janjati Vikas Samiti has also been extending support the primitive tribal communities for better conditions for life, socio-economic development and work through sustainable development methodologies and strategies, one of the most essential need of human being. They try to fulfil this task by conducting various programme/activities, viz., development; Vocational Training; Cultural; Health & Family Welfare Literacy; Agriculture & Horticulture Counselling; Employment generation programme, etc.
Out of the five vulnerable tribes, the Great Andamanese and Onges have adopted the modern way of living but still profess their traditional skill of hunting, gathering, food collection, tribal medicines etc. All the tribes except Great Andamanese converse only in their mother tongue among them.
To preserve the tradition, habitat and life of these 05 vulnerable tribes of these Islands, the A&N Administration had notified reserved areas:-
|
SN |
NAME OF TRIBE |
AREA |
|
1 |
Jarawa |
1028 sq. km |
|
2 |
Onges |
731.60 sq. km |
|
3 |
Great Andamanese |
6.02 Sq.km |
|
4 |
Shompen |
991.61 sq. km |
|
5 |
Sentinelese |
59.67 sq. km |
The developmental activities undertaken for each of the five vulnerable primitive tribes are detailed as under:
- A. The Jarawas
-
The Jarawas inhabit in the South and Middle Andaman areas. They practice their traditional life style and culture and continue with hunting, food gathering, honey collection. An area of 1028 Sq. Km has been reserved for their subsistence from Constance Bay in South Andaman to Lewis inlet bay in Middle Andaman.
The mission for Jarawas is mainly the following:-
i) Providing health facilities both in-situ and expert medical treatment
ii) Separate Special ward is providng for referred cases of Jarawas at PHC Kadamtala, PHC Tushnabad and G B Pant Hospital, Port Blair.
iii) Well experienced ANM has been posted at Special Ward G B Pant Hospital to assist the concerned specialist for proper diagnosis of the tribal patients.
iv) Construction of Jarawa ward near PHC Ferrargunj
v) Appointment of Pharmacists, Tribal Welfare Officers and Field Attendants
The Deputy Director (TH) accompanied by Para medical staff undertakes frequent visits to Jarawa habitats to administer in-situ treatment. All major health issues are addressed on a timely manner. To assist the health aspect, AAJVS has posted two Pharmacists at Kadamtala and Tirur.
The present populations of Jarawas are as under:-
SN
AGE GROUP
MALE
FEMALE
TOTAL
1
0-10
103
89
192
2
11-20
57
49
106
3
21-30
29
30
59
4
31-40
25
18
43
5
41-50
11
20
31
6
51 AND ABOVE
08
03
11
Total
233
209
442
- B. The Onges
-
The Onges are 115 in number and settled in Dugong Creek. They are hunters and food gatherers. Even though they have experienced the taste of modernization and eat food with salt and spice, they still continue their traditional habits of canoe making, fish, turtle and wild boar hunting. They collect plenty of honey during the season. To make them self reliant, coconut plantation has been raised at Dugong Creek. They collect the nuts, make copra and sell it through their own Society i.e OMPCS ltd to another apex level Society M/s ANCOFED ltd.
For upgrading the health status of Onges the Tribal Health Section of this Directorate the following issues:-
i) Counseling the Onges against ill effects of tobacco, alcohol etc.
ii) Providing better health delivery system
iii) Providing Supplementary food for the children under 0-6 years, pregnant mothers and lactating mothers.
The population of Onges has been around 95-100 since last many years. To prevent any kind of disaster such as the one that occurred in December 2008 or any kind of epidemic outbreak, the workers at ground level need to be sensitized thoroughly. The ANM, Pharmacists and male Health worker has been posted at Sub-Centre Dugong Creek and working round the clock. The Deputy Director (TH) visits Dugong creek frequently for organizing health camps, multi Specialty Tribal Health Camps and giving in situ treatment to the Onges and to avoid infant mortality.
The demographic distribution of the Onges population is as under:-
SN
AGE GROUP
MALE
FEMALE
TOTAL
1
0-10
32
26
58
2
11-20
12
08
20
3
21-30
07
06
13
4
31-40
03
07
10
5
41-50
03
04
07
6
51 AND ABOVE
04
06
10
Total
61
57
118
- C.The Great Andamanese
-
The Great Andamanese were more than 10000 in number but severely imparted by British policy and their number came to 19. They were settled at Strait Island by the Administration. Presently their population is 61 (51 + 10 non-tribes). Six Great Andamanese married to non-tribes.
The mission for the Great Andamanese is different from that of the others:-
i) Counseling against ill effects of tobacco and alcohol
ii) De-addiction camp is going to organize at Straight Island
iii) For skin problem Dermatologist has been deputed on duty-cum-tour to Straight Island from time to time.
iv) Revitalizing the culture and traditional know how from older Andamanese and documenting it. Exposure of younger generation to this traditional culture.
v) Establishing good communication network to and from Strait island
vi) Providing quality education and sports facilities
vii) Organizing of medical camps
The present demographic distribution is as under.
SN
AGE GROUP
MALE
FEMALE
TOTAL
1
0-10
07
08
15
2
11-20
08
05
13
3
21-30
05
06
11
4
31-40
06
04
10
5
41-50
04
02
06
6
51 AND ABOVE
03
03
06
Total
33
28
61
- D. The Shompens
-
The Shompens live in Great Nicobar islands. They are scattered in different pockets in the entire islands which is divisible into various bands. Their present population is 219. Nearly 90% of the land is declared as reserve area.
The main objectives laid down for welfare of Shompens are as under:
a) Protection of the natural habitat of Shompen Tribe so that there is no further depletion in the area notified for them.
b) Extension of all support and assistance for their survival.
c) Empowerment of Shompen through gradual exposure and interaction through AAJVS.
d) Their protection from the harmful effects of exposure and contact with the outside world
e) Preservation of the social structure, traditional mode of subsistence and culture identity of the Primitive Tribal Group
f) Provision of health care to the members of the Shompen PTG to reduce mortality and morbidity affliction with diseases to which their systems have no immunity
g) To protect and conserve ecology and environment of the notified Tribal Reserve for Shompens in order to enable the PTG to practice their traditional mode of subsistence and life style;
h) Sensitization of settlers and other non-tribals around the Shompen Tribal reserve and also personnel of govt. agencies working for the protection and welfare of the Primitive Tribe and about the need to protect and preserve the primitive tribe respect and value their indigenous and unique life style.
The latest population of Shompen is 220 as detailed below:-
SN
AGE GROUP
MALE
FEMALE
TOTAL
1
0-10
22
15
37
2
11-20
23
19
42
3
21-30
27
20
47
4
31-40
35
17
52
5
41-50
16
8
24
6
51 AND ABOVE
10
8
18
Total
133
87
220
- E. The Sentinelese
-
The Sentinelese is the inhabitants of North Sentinel Island. As per the prevailing policy decision taken, all types of contact or expeditions to North Sentinel Island have been stopped. However, patrolling is carried out by security forces to prevent poachers entering into the island. There population is estimated to be around 50. The experts have advised that the Administration must have “eyes on” policy in respect of Sentinelese rather than the present policy of “hands off”. Accordingly, it is proposed to carry out a periodical circumnavigation of the North Sentinel Island by a special team constituted by the Administration for the purpose. A new Circumnavigation protocol has been issued by the Administration for ensuing security and safety of the Sentinelese.
E-mail ID :dirdhs.and@nic.in