Aim: To enhance the overall health and well-being of indigenous population

Objectives:

1.Need assessment of the community to identify challenges with regards to health and well being

2.Capacity building  through targeted interventions

3.Identify and document traditions and best practices of this population with a view to  preserving  their customary culture

Centre works in close association with District Health Office and Integrated Tribal Development Project, Udupi district along with various NGOs and tribal community leaders.

Highlights of some of the activities carried out in tribal communities

•      Tribal women (from Koraga, Marati Naika and Malekudiya communities) were screened for cervical cancer through a project funded by ICMR, New Delhi. The women were screened across the tribal hamlets, were treated for any infections of the genital tract and referred and treated for cervical dysplasia at Kasturba Hospital, Manipal. This activity was done in collaboration with District Health and Family Welfare Department and ITDP, Udupi.

•      Assessment of socio-demographic and health status of Koraga community was carried out by organizing health camps at specific tribal hamlets in collaboration with District Health authorities, ITDP , local panchayats and NGOs  and this activity was funded by ITDP, Udupi district. Tribal adults and children detected with infectious diseases and malnutrition were either treated at the camps itself or referred to respective PHCs for further follow up in liaison with the local panchayat members and tribal community leaders.  

•      Effectiveness of a Healthcare Governance Model on the utilization of health care services among Koraga tribes  in Udupi district is being assessed  and this project has been funded by ICMR, New Delhi (Ongoing project)

Centre has taken up a project to assess the nutritional status and its determinants among Under-Five  Children of Koraga Tribal Group in Udupi District which is funded by MAHE through Seed Grant (ongoing project)

Research Publications

1.  Ghosh S, Pattanshetty SM, Mallya SD, Pandey D, Guddattu V, Kamath VG, Kabekkodu SP, Satyamoorthy K, Shetty RS. Cervical cytology and associated factors among tribal women of Karnataka, India. PLos One 2021; 16(3): e0248963. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0248963

2. Ghosh S, Mallya SD, Shetty RS, Pattanshetty SM, , Pandey D, Kabekkodu SP, et al. Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Towards Cervical Cancer and its Screening Among Women from Tribal Population: a Community-Based Study from Southern India. J of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities 2020. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-020-00760-4.

3.  Ghosh S, Shetty RS, Pattanshetty SM, Mallya SD, Pandey D, Kabekkodu SP, et al. Human papilloma and other DNA virus infections of the cervix: A population based comparative study among tribal and general population in India.