NEW DELHI: Tribals account for 30 per cent cases of malaria in India and non-communicable and lifestyle diseases are now major health problems facing them, according to a Government study.
The comprehensive analysis of tribal health, by an expert committee constituted by the Ministries of Health and Tribal Affairs in 2013, also revealed that an “unacceptably high” number of tribals suffer from malnutrition.
The health status of Scheduled Tribes has significantly improved over the last 25 years, and “yet, it is the worst when compared to other social groups”, it said.
The committee, which submitted the report to the Government recently, was tasked to review the existing health situation in tribal areas, formulate strategic guidelines for states and make recommendations on the requirement of additional resources.
It said there is a near complete absence of data on the health situation of different tribal communities. In the absence of a comprehensive health picture of tribal health in the country, policy measures and government programmes are often ad-hoc.
The panel relied on data from the 2011 Census, National Family Health Survey (NFHS), National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO), studies conducted by civil society, and a study by the National Institute of Research in Tribal Health.
“Geographical isolation, poor implementation of policies and lack of adequate resources have been responsible for the poor health status of the tribal population,” the 12-member panel, headed by Magsaysay awardee and rural health expert Dr Abhay Bang, said. (AGENCIES)
Follow our WhatsApp channel