Tribal Healthcare
Introduction
- Tribals constitute around one per cent of Tamil Nadu’s population
- Tribals are settled mostly in 12 districts. They are spread in 2860 villages located in 63 blocks
- A total of 173 PHCs and 611 health centers serve this population
- Tribal communities have not enjoyed adequate healthcare services - inaccessibility and cultural factors are the main causes
As one of the main aims of the Tamil Nadu Health Systems Project is to increase access to quality healthcare for poor and disadvantaged people, the Project undertook the task of improving healthcare services to tribal communities in Tamil Nadu.
Laying the foundation for better tribal healthcare
Adopting a systematic approach in tackling the challenge of providing healthcare services to tribal communities, initially, a tribal development plan was created. This plan was based on consultations with members of tribal communities, non-governmental organizations, and tribal development consultants. The plan was also influenced by studies done on burden of diseases involving the tribal communities, and health seeking behavior of tribal communities.
As a result of this plan, TNHSP undertook six interventions, including:
