13 tribal children have died in Attappady of Palakkad district this year
Palakkad: Kerala’s claims to world fame for its high human development indices appear to be tottering with children in the tribal heartland of Attappady in Palakkad district dying of malnutrition.
In the last 15 months, as many as 29 children died of malnutrition, 13 of them this year. Two more deaths were reported from the area over the past two days. The number might be higher, for not all deaths from the Kurumba tribal hamlets in the remote forest areas of Anavai, Edavani, etc., are getting reported.
A report sent to the State government by the Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP) officers last week stated that ‘malnutrition and low blood count are found to be the reasons for the death.’
‘A large number of tribal children are born underweight and are affected by malnutrition,’ the report said, attributing the situation to poor healthcare facilities and inefficient functioning of the health and social welfare departments.
Poor indicators
Health indicators of Attappady remain lower than those of the State and the nation. The maternal mortality rate is seven per 1,000, compared with the State figure of 1.3 and the infant mortality rate is 66 per 1,000, against the State figure of 14.1.
Fewer institutional deliveries mean poor maternal and neonatal outcomes. High incidence of severe maternal anaemia, obstetric complications and deliveries by untrained persons have all contributed to the present dismal situation, medical practitioners at Attappady said.
Anaemia, malnutrition, deficiency disorders, tuberculosis, typhoid and diarrhoea are rampant in Attappady.
Many people have sickle cell anaemia, a genetic disorder, which has a devastating effect on their health and quality of life.
500 cases of anaemia
The government had ordered a health survey of all the 192 tribal hamlets. The survey, which is only halfway through, has identified 500 cases of anaemia.
It has also brought to light the fact that those with sickle cell anaemia do not get proper treatment to manage the disease, which is incurable.
For the last two years, the anganwadis under the social welfare department have not been distributing nutritious food to children, pregnant women and teenaged girls. The health centres have also not been distributing health kits for the past one year.
"Shameful & shocking"
"It is most shameful and shocking for the district administration and the State as a whole that malnutrition deaths are taking place in a socially forward State like Kerala," District Collector P.M. Ali Asgar Pasha told The Hindu on Wednesday. He said he had called an urgent meeting of top officials of the departments of health, social welfare and tribal welfare to find a solution for the death of many children."
Inquiry ordered
He had ordered an inquiry into the lapses on the part of various departments responsible for providing healthcare and other facilities to the 29,000-strong tribal population of Attappady, Mr. Pasha said.