Outreach
Programs
Some tribal people do not go to the hospital because of a lack of money or family support or because they are bedridden. The outreach programs started when some of these villagers requested the doctors to visit their villages. AKCHK’s outreach programs have proven to be helpful to and effective for the people of Wayanad who now enjoy much greater access to health services. The tribal people, who live in poverty, often lack access to transportation. Many of those living in the most remote hamlets cannot afford to travel to the hospital. Travel is also restricted for elderly or bedridden patients. Without AKCHK’s outreach program, many tribal communities would have no access whatsoever to health services.
It was only after visiting the hamlets that AKCHK staff realized the root cause of their poor diet. Dr. Ajitha observed that people often consumed rice gruel alone without vegetables or curries, a meal utterly lacking in nutritional value. Such meals became prevalent after the tribal communities transitioned from their traditionally nutritious harvests of ragi (finger millet), millet, and other super grains, and now have access only to subsided rice. This awareness led to the decision to distribute mung beans, peanuts, chickpeas and other proteins to the villagers regularly.
Regular medical camps are conducted twice a week at two different camps at Modakkara and Edaguni. Additional camps are organized weekly in association with other NGOs involved in tribal work such as PEEP, Ekal Vidyalaya and Vanavasi Kalyan Ashram.
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