https://csim.in/conversations/Conversations-August2012.pdf

Dr. Regi and Dr. Lalitha, fondly addressed by the tribals as ‘G’ and ‘Tha’ are the founders of the Tribal Health Initiative (THI) at Sittilingi, a village situated on the hillocks, about 100 kilometers from Salem. Regi is a surgeon and an anesthetist and Lalitha is a gynecologist. Both pursued their medical degree at Allepey Medical College and together decided to work towards providing health care for the tribal communities.

Here is an interesting story on how they started their work at Sittilingi and about the tribes who live here. 

“After completing our Medical degree in1987, we worked in Gandhigram hospital at Dindugal for a while. We wanted to not just work in a hospital, but instead move one step ahead. After we had our first child, I left Lalitha behind, and visited tribal areas across India. This is because we learnt that the tribals were neglected due to inaccessibility and lacked health care facilities,” said Regi. 

Trekking with just a backpack, Regi George visited several tribal hamlets to locate an ideal place to launch their mission—providing health care for the tribal communities. During his journey, he visited Sittilingi valley and the surrounding Kalvarayan and Sitteri Hills which were inhabited primarily by tribal people. These tribes were known as ‘Malavasis’ meaning hill people and their occupation was rain fed agriculture. 

After studying several tribal hamlets, Regi learnt that Sittilingi had a high rate of infant mortality (147/1000) and maternal mortality. The nearest hospital was at Harur town, the taluk headquarters, situated 48 kilometers away from Sittilingi, and to find one with surgical facilities meant a journey to Dharmapuri which is located 100 kilometers away. The area was remote and badly served by public transport. 

“Both of us being nature lovers decided to serve the tribal communities who lived here as we believed that there should be more meaning for our work. Also, Tamil Nadu was then one among the five backward states in India,” said Regi. 

In 1993, Regi and Lalitha set up a hut in a small piece of forest land. They had two cots that were made out of wood and ropes which they used to treat out-patients. In the mornings, they would take the cots and set up a clinic under a tamarind tree. The room in the hut doubled up as an operation theatre and a labor room. This is how Tribal Health Initiative got operational here. 

“Action Aid, an international non-governmental organization, provided us funds to construct a 10-bedded hospital and a place for us to stay. We also got support from our friends and well-wishers. By 1997, we had established a full-fledged hospital with an operation theatre. But still, not all the tribals were convinced that we were doctors,” he said. 

“What did you do to gain their confidence?” I asked. 

“We visited villages by motorbike and the tribals used bullock carts to attend our meetings. We spoke to the communities about the need for health auxiliaries and health workers in each of the 21 villages. We organized awareness campaigns and used flash cards to communicate to them. Once they got convinced, we requested them to send educated girls to our hospital to get trained as health workers. Today, THI has a lot of tribal girls trained as health workers, health auxiliaries, and hospital staff,” replied Regi. 

The Health Auxiliaries are women who have been chosen by the tribal communities. Once in a month, these health auxiliaries visit the hospital at Sittilingi for reporting and training. They are offered advice on nutrition, hygiene, birth practices and simple ailments. 

Public transport in the hilly areas being a major issue, THI also operates ambulances around the clock. These ambulances are of immense help especially during deliveries as the villages are located far away from the hospital. The ambulance service is offered to the tribals free of cost. In-patient care including surgery or delivery is also offered free for the tribals as it is supported by Tamil Nadu Government scheme, while a nominal amount is charged for the non-tribals. 

“How did the tribals attend to child births earlier?” I asked curiously.

“Earlier, it was the mother or the elder sister who attended to the delivery. The pregnant mother would be taken to the backyard and laid on a sack. The placenta would not be cut until it fully came out and both the mother and child would remain outside the house for seven days in a temporary thatched structure. Being a hilly region, the weather was not conducive for both the mother and the child. This was the reason for high level of infant mortality and maternal mortality amongst the tribals,” replied Regi heaving a sigh. 

“Today, the health workers form the backbone of the Tribal Health Initiative. They are able to diagnose and treat common problems, assist in the operating theatre, conduct deliveries, care for inpatients and go out to the villages for antenatal and child health checkups,” he added. 

While conversing, Regi was informed about an emergency in the hospital. While he left to attend to a scan, I took a walk around the campus. I had the least feeling that I was visiting a hospital. The entire place was filled with greenery and the ambience was soothing. The staff were cheerful and even the patients, who were waiting for their treatment, were pleasant to interact with.

The hospital staff, guests, trainees, and tribal in-patients were being served food near the kitchen. I spontaneously took my serving and sat in the tiffin shed quietly observing the others who were enjoying their meal. 

Around 2 PM Regi and Lalitha arrived to have their lunch.

“You seem to be having late lunch?”   I remarked. 

“We try to attend to our out-patients before the bus arrives at 1:30 PM as the next bus is scheduled only around 4 PM or so,” said Lalitha smilingly.

It was obvious that she hid her tiredness behind the smile and I was not surprised at her commitment. 

Tribal Health Initiative runs a full-fledged 24-bed primary care hospital and has extended its services to conduct education programmes and outreach clinics in all of the 21 villages situated in the area. Further, newer initiatives such as Organic Farming and Tribal Craft have also been launched. 

“It is 20 years since you came here. What are the major changes that you observe among the tribals now?” I asked Regi.

“They are very simple people. They used to consume a lot of millets earlier, now they have chilli chicken,” answered Regi jokingly. 

“What about the future plans of Tribal health Initiative?” I asked. 

“We came here with no plans, and still do not have any. We respond to people and hope to give power to the people. That’s all and nothing else!” replied Regi spontaneously. 

I bid adieu to the divine duo and enroute visited a few villages where the health auxiliaries lived. “The community recognizes me as a nurse and come to me for medication. I have a better social image now and feel proud to be part of the Tribal Health Initiative,” said Vijaya. 

Winding through the twisty roads and crossing the forest area I wondered when I would get to visit this place again and spend a day with the divine duo. A great inspiration for social work!