Adivasis & Health: When new lifestyle diseases compound ?old? problems

Twenty-five years ago, when the Gandhian doctor-activist couple Abhay and Rani Bang started working in the forest areas of Maharashtra?s Gadchiroli district, they found malaria to pose the biggest health concern for its predominantly tribal population. So, regular medical treatment apart, they also sought to impress upon the local adivasis the importance of using insecticide-treated mosquito nets. But malaria being deeply ingrained in the tribal psyche as retribution from ?invisible super-natural forces,? not only were the medicines viewed as futile, even the nets soaked in insecticides were seen more useful to catch fish.

25 years later, malaria remains only somewhat less rampant and mosquito nets, too, are used but inadequately. Acceptance of medicines, however, has become widespread indicating a positive change of mindset. But, with many new socio-cultural and economic influences ? basically market forces ? making inroads, some fresh health problems have crept up. According to the National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau, 24 per cent of adivasi adults across India today suffer from hypertension.As per the 2011 Census, India?s total tribal population stood at 10.43 crore. ?That?s bigger than the entire populations of most countries. But while a lot has been written about tribal culture and history, little is known about their health status. We even don?t have data on tribal health separate from that on rural health,? says Abhay Bang. - See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/health/adivasis-health-when-new-lifestyle-diseases-compound-old-problems/#sthash.41XapbZW.dpuf
- See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/health/adivasis-health-when-new-lifestyle-diseases-compound-old-problems/#sthash.41XapbZW.dpuf
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