Attappady tribal hospital to get more specialists, newborn care facilities

Health Minister K. Muraleedharan listening to patients at Tribal Taluk Speciality Hospital at Kottathara, Attappady, on Saturday.

Tribal Taluk Speciality Hospital at Kottathara, Attappady, will get more specialist doctors, a paediatric ambulance and expanded newborn care facilities as part of efforts to improve health-care services in Attappady.

Health Minister K. Muraleedharan said on Saturday that the new appointments would include paediatricians, gynaecologists and anaesthesiologists.

A new block with facilities for newborn care and an emergency operation theatre will be constructed with NABARD assistance, he said.

Mr. Muraleedharan made the announcements at a review meeting after visiting the hospital on Saturday. The Minister’s visit came in the wake of increasing criticism against the government following a series of infant deaths among tribespeople of Attappady.

Health Minister K. Muraleedharan addressing a review meeting of officials held at the community health centre in Agali, Attappady, on Saturday.

Taluk Tribal Speciality Hospital at Kottathara and Government Medical College Hospital, Thrissur, will work under a spoke-and-hub model to improve access to specialist treatment.

Paediatricians at both hospitals will coordinate patient care, Mr. Muraleedharan said. A radiologist from the medical college will provide services at Kottathara hospital once a week, he said.

The tribal hospital in Attappady will also get a paediatric ambulance. Its neonatal and paediatric departments will be expanded in coordination with the medical college. The number of field staff will be increased, and a mobile medical unit will be introduced.

The government will consider providing cooked meals to pregnant women under the Janani Janma Raksha scheme implemented by the Scheduled Tribes (ST) Development department instead of the existing monthly assistance of ₹2,000. The Minister said that he would discuss the proposal with Minister for Welfare of Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes, and Backward Classes K.A. Thulasi.

The report of the expert committee that studied infant deaths in Attappady will be examined before further action is taken, he said.

The Minister also visited the community health centre at Agali, Attappady, and held a review meeting.

District Collector Sudheer K., Health department Additional Director Reetha K.P., local body representatives, District Medical Officer K. Bindu Thomas, members of the expert committee, hospital officials and representatives of various departments attended the meetings.

The CPI(M), meanwhile, observed a black day in Attappady on Saturday, protesting against the increase in infant deaths.