Tribal Health Centre

CONTEXT

Numerous indigenous communities live in the remote areas of the Indian state of Odisha. This area is among the poorest in the country, and these communities often face discrimination and social exclusion. Access to healthcare remains a significant challenge due to both geographic isolation and persistent social stigma.

MEDICAL CARE AT THE TRIBAL HEALTH CENTRE

In the 1980s, Usthi, in partnership with a local organisation, established a small hospital in Somagiri—the first medical facility in the region. The permanent medical team is complemented on certain weekdays by visiting specialists, including, for example, a paediatrician and a dentist, ensuring a broad range of healthcare services. A field ambulance service provides the transport of seriously ill patients from surrounding villages to the Tribal Health Centre or, when necessary, to the regional hospital in the nearby town of Keonjhar.

HEALTH PROMOTION

A network of 42 local women serves as a crucial link between the indigenous communities and the Tribal Health Centre. The women have strong local networks and have been trained as health workers through the project. Travelling by bicycle to nearby villages, they provide first aid and ensure that residents around Somagiri can receive treatment at the Tribal Health Centre if necessary. Through their knowledge and the trust they have built within the community, these women play a key role in overcoming hesitation and breaking down barriers to seeking medical treatment.