Traditional tribal healers known as Vaidus or Bhumkas in Melghat , Maharashtra will now be trained for primary measures for treating routine cough, cold and other illnesses. They would be receiving Rs. 200 per patient if new born or its mother is sent to Primary Health Center by them.
To bring down malnutrition deaths and pregnancy related deaths, state health department has came out with this novel idea. In last six months, the state health department has trained 359 Bhumkas in Melghat areas who generally rely on traditional medicine and a few rituals as well as chanting of mantras while treating their patient. Health Minister Dr Dipak Sawant on Monday informed media persons that his department would be giving highest priority to bring down children deaths in Melghat and other tribal areas of the state.
He said that state government would be opening 72 sub-centers which would work in small villages in Nandurbar, Gadchiroli, Mokhada, Wada and other Tribal areas. He informed that other than training the Bhumkas, government is also creating awareness within tribal population for not marrying the daughters below 18 years of age. He told that there are 11 PHCs in Melghat and health department is monitoring the diet of the pregnant women in last few months.
Sawant said that in last six months the Bhumkas have been trained for routine illness and measures to be taken so that they would not rely upon wrong line of treatment which could prove fatal by losing precious time. Sawant said that generally Tribal have faith and trust in these Bhumkas or Vaidus and that is the reason his department has decided to give honorarium to Bhumkas if they send the new born or his mother to Primary health Center. Sawant informed that health department would be giving Rs. 200 per patient to Bhumkas so that maximum children and mothers can reach PHC’s at right time thereby reducing the fatality.
Source: dnaindia.com