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Sirumalai Initiative for Tribal Health and Rural Affairs

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Sirumalai Initiative for Tribal Health and Rural Affairs

Not for Profit NGO based out of KODAIKANAL working towards equitable healthcare and sustainable livelihoods for rural mountain and tribal communities

16/07/2025

It's been six months since some major transitions have happened .Here is a glimpse of what's happening on the field for us .

27/05/2025

Opthalmic services in the rural areas is a difficult affair. Blindness in elderly owing to cataract is rampant and we have been trying to tackle it by screening and facilitating the cataract surgeries through Aravind eye care and Christian fellowship hospital . However ,the number of diabetics in rural areas is also on the rise and so must be the retinopathy due to it .While we attempt an annual screening through dilation and screening through the direct opthalmoscopy but would it not be good if our diabetics had access to be screened and seen by an ophthalmologist .
During the alumni meet of MS Ramiah medical College Dr Vivek mentioned these challenges in ophthalmic services in our hills and Dr Lavanya an ophthalmologist suggested we get in touch with oivi who have been attempting to work in this arena.
So to and fro conversations and coordination ,a list of diabetics in our fold was made and prioritised by our health workers team at and the retinopathy camp was organised on 23.05.25.
A total of 64 diabetics were screened and evaluated by Dr Lavanya who accompanied the oivi team .She suggested interventions for those who needed it at the earliest. Grateful to her for her inputs .
Next task ahead planning interventions in a cost effective way .

# palanihills x SITHARA

24/12/2024

Winding up with the last outreach of 2024. This December we started slowly introducing patient held medical records instead of the regular medical record which was being done by us . Each person with chronic problem such as diabetes , hypertension shall have detailed health records in their hands as well apart from having their details and records in our Electronic medical records.

This month we tried understanding about the knowledge, attitude and practices about anemia in the villages and shared regarding the smaller changes that could be done to dietary practices which would ensure iron intake on a regular basis as well shared on the signs and symptoms of Anemia .
Next year we look forward to creating some kitchen gardens together in our outreach villages .

29/11/2024

It's been a month since SITHARA has extended its outreach services to the tribal villages of Vazahaigiri,Moolayar,Pulathur,Mannathev,Kadagudadi ,J.J Nagar, Kumburuyur, malaikadu in collaborative efforts with PEAK trust .This shall help us extend our medical outreach to the tribal hamlets of Lower Palanis. Dr.Vivek is helping streamline this project to evolve as a nurse-led project. We observe that Anemia is highly prevalent in our indigenous communities.
To collect the blood samples for haemoglobin, running them in the lab and reporting them later is a time taking task in itself as these villages are far off from our central lab .So we intend to use point of care testing (POC) device on field for assessing haemoglobin just like we do for screening for blood sugars.On our last team meeting staff learnt how to utilise this device on field. We are glad that our nurses show deep interest in learning new things. The quick lab work on the field shall help screening of Anemia better .

13/11/2024

Ooow swipe right to see how beautifully the landscape is transforming..

At end of May 2024 we initiated our Community Development and Livelihood project on a pilot basis at one of the tribal hamlets in the lower Palanis .
After multiple community dialogues the community voices echoed that livelihood issues were topmost priority for them followed by education for children.
This hamlet has been struggling with growing ginger and finding that the seeds rot or don't fetch them decent price. In May we asked the farmers from this hamlet if they were interested in growing turmeric and some of them said a yes !
600 kgs of organic turmeric seeds were procured locally with the from an organic turmeric farmer Mr Badri Narayan and distributed amongst 10 farmers .
Mr Badri was very kind to interact with the farmers in the hamlet and guide them on it .
We look forward to seeing how the harvest turns out and then multiply the seeds for further distribution.

Grateful to Friends of SITHARA for supporting the Development and Livelihood project.

08/11/2024

Thamaraikulam hamlet - in the Adukkam region.
A hamlet where the paediatric population is quite high. In our last visit - almost every child was down with a bout of respiratory illness that we almost ran out of our stocks for the field visit .
We generally focus on chronic disease care on the field than acute care but this time in this hamlet we focused on dealing with the ongoing acute respiratory infections.
All of them were followed up through a call to the volunteer health worker in the village. Only one of them had to come back to seek treatment at the facility.

09/10/2024

focus : Tamaraikulam and Palamalai hamlets located in the Adukkam region .

Tamaraikulam and Palamalai hamlets are tribal settlements which don't have public transport .
The only means of access for most people in this area is the pick up vehicle which arrives at the estate owned by CSI Church which arrives workers from perumalmalai. On its return people take help from the empty vehicle to access perumalmalai for their errands or accessing medical service. So receiving adequate health care service at the appropriate time is often a challenge.

Our outreach is focussed towards these difficult to reach regions as well as tribal hamlets.
This quarter saw us add these two tribal hamlets to our existing one . A focused group discussion (FDG) was led with folks from these hamlets to understand the areas on which our health education must be focused. As the number of elderly is relatively higher in our villages than young children. Our services in these areas lean towards the non communicable disease ( NCD) care and geriatric care .

To those who are new to following our work ,our outreach services in the tribal hamlets are provided free of cost as these regions are quite impoverished .
The outreach services is supported by Friends of SITHARA who have been our pillar of support.

outreach # rural health # chronic disease care care

13/09/2024

That's Priya in focus, our community outreach nurse in charge. It's been three months since joined us and we love her energy.. While she is nurse in charge for community she also has a flair for all things surgical. So, slowly she is also become an in charge in the treatment room, taking over the wound care for those on follow up. Our other staff Sr satya is very good at suturing , iv lines , palliative care and inventory management while sr meena steps up in case of emergencies. It's wonderful to identify areas of interest for staff and help them become good better best at it!
On other note, we concluded our August outreach cycles. Palamalai hamlet has become a new addition where we are thoroughly enjoying our interactions and reach over there. Recently, one of the Tribal boys from this hamlet was diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder called MOGADs disease which has affected his vision. We raised funds for him through kind samaritans and he is undergoing his treatment at NIMHANS. While a full recovery seems impossible atleast the treatment shall prevent disease progression.
We also interacted with the elderly in the village trying to understand their Knowledge Attitude practice (KAP) for understanding their food habits, resources available in terms of food and understood about their understanding of diabetes , hypertension etc as NCDs are in rise amongst the tribal hamlets too.In other hamlets we spoke led a focus group discussion with women trying to understand their understanding of anemia and helping them recognize backyard food like raw banana, banana stem banana flowers, greens which are rich in iron. We are encouraging use of millet like ragi which has high iron and calcium content to become part of dietary practices.
building outreach

17/08/2024

Sirumalai initiative for tribal health and rural affairs (SITHARA) formalized in October 2023. Bringing forth our first newsletter covering the work done over the last quarter.

08/08/2024

July saw us start our Outreach services to another difficult to reach area of Palamalai .

Nestled in the outskirts of the famed Palamalai estate. It is one of the most difficult terrains . The only means of transport available to this area are the pick up vehicles that depart from perumalmalai twice a day from the St Joseph's estate. After community dialogues, we have initiated this outreach service to this village.

Over the period of the time we have noted that our tribal belts are anemic, we have anaemia even amongst males in our adukkam belt. Unlike nilgiris we have not yet come across sickle cell anemia or thalassemia fortunately. Amongst NCDs Hypertension is more prevalent than Diabetes. We usually find at least one person in the village affected in the hamlets with CVA (cerebrovascular accident /stroke) which leaves them disabled for life.

The number of elderly are higher in these hamlets than young children. Children often are sent away to hostels in plains to study once they reach 5th . However drop out rates are higher. Higher education is a distant dream. Many of them have entitlement issues with no voter Or community certificate which deters in continuing higher education or seeking benefits of govt schemes. Many of them are not landed and work on other people's farms and eke their living. SITHARA apart from the outreach services is also helping out with entitlement issues through our community volunteers.

Keeping these aside, often I find these are some warmest hamlets where we receive so much affection - Antony anna, a tree climber came and handed over guavas for the team. Mary amma is hesitant to ask if we shall be okay to have kattan kapi(black coffee) and we quip why not? Such is the warmth of the people of these distant hamlets.

# community outreach engagement
communities

17/07/2024

3days of Immersion and Learning .

My first tryst with the work of Tribal health Initiative was through a reader's digest article on Dr Regi and Dr Lalita that my dad had shared with me. Ever since I have admired both of them and the place as well. While Vivek worked in the Rural unit of CMC , Dr would also highly speak of them and as would many more working in the rural health space.
V even wanted to work there at some stage in his life post mbbs but life events happened for him and he couldn't.

With the formation of SITHARA, a lot more learning needs as well as needs to bring in administrative systems in place have risen up for us.
Furthermore a nudge by Dr Vasundhara Rangasamy helped us consolidate our plans to meet Dr G and Tha ( as everyone calls them) . We spent three days in the Sittlingi Valley , sought G 's guidance and mentorship. Learnt Book keeping, best accountancy practices, bit n pieces of learning about organizational development, formation of farming collectives, how staff are selected and trained,what to do and what not to do at this stage (in our context).

We have come rich with knowledge of organizations of such scale have come through their times and our home work with time frames.

We are grateful for this guidance and look forward towards a continued mentorship and guidance from THI, Sittlingi

09/05/2024

This week has been a busy one for us a our rural clinic in Perumalmalai. Often people from people from Melpallam, vadagounchi push us to see them faster owing to limited bus service etc etc but those from the tribal hamlets are generally shy to push us.
This was the last patient that i saw before we broke for lunch. A stench and wetness of the dressing filled the room and before I could say something there were maggots falling off the wound. I had only heard textbook description of maggots in wound in my palliative care books. As per the books, the turpentine oil was to be used and I unsure if I would find it around. The old time practitioners might have it, it rushed through my mind and I sent the son to an old timer -a practicing sister's dispensary. I rushed to check any veterinary medicine containing turpentine oil or maggots could help (india is a country of jugad and sometimes there is no respite in rural areas to do with what's available) but fortunately and to my surprise the medical shop nearby who even stocks veterinary medicine had turpentine oil which came to our rescue to remove maggots
Mrs Maria backiam hails from a tribal hamlet and has been a diabetic. She injured herself in the courtyard of her home while washing utensils. She neglected the wound and finally had to be admitted and underwent and amputation of a toe. After discharge the son had been taking Mrs m for dressing at the GH but I highly doubt if they have been regular. If they were I wonder if it would be maggot infested or did the stench and pus oozing in the wound not raise a concern to person dressing it.
The pus swab was taken , wound debridement after removing the maggots was done. However, we anticipated a high chance of defaulting so we sat with the son and understood who is the breadwinner? With almost a month of hospital stay how are the sons managing to earn and stay afloat. If it would be possible to bring her for a everyday dressing etc were discussed. Mrs maria backiam has no husband , she has two young adult son one 19 and one in early 20s who work as daily wage labors .for past one month both son have been alternating at work to keep the family afloat. One of them taking the responsibility to bring her to center everyday. The social determinants often influence the health outcomes.She is currently being supported through SITHARA s poor patients fund so that she doesn't default. We hope she recovers soon.
P. S if it's your birthday or occasions in your life where you would want to contribute I urge you to contribute in terms of micro donations towards SITHARA s poor patients fund. Reach us at 9880537880 if you consider it.

Address

Kodaikanal

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 7pm
Tuesday	9am - 7pm
Wednesday	9am - 7pm
Thursday	9am - 7pm
Friday	9am - 7pm
Saturday	9am - 2pm
Sunday	10am - 2pm

Telephone

+918431560576

Website

http://sirumalaihealthcenter.org/, http://http.sitharatrust.org/

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