National Health Mission Tamil Nadu, Department of Health & Family Welfare Govt. of Tamil Nadu, India

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National Health Mission – Tamil Nadu

Department of Health & Family Welfare Govt. of Tamil Nadu, India

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Tribal Health

Tribal Health

Tribal Health

Tamil Nadu has implemented a range of focused healthcare initiatives to improve access, reduce health inequities, and strengthen maternal, child, and community health outcomes among tribal populations living in remote, hilly, and hard-to-reach areas. These interventions include Birth Waiting Rooms, Tribal Referral Services, Tribal Bed Grant Scheme, Tribal Counsellors, Sickle Cell Anaemia Programme, Haemoglobinopathy Screening, Integrated Treatment Centres, and Tribal Mobile Medical Units.
Tribal Mobile Medical Units.
Birth Waiting Rooms.
Sickle Cell Anaemia Programme.
Haemoglobinopathy Screening
Tribal Bed Grant Scheme.
Tribal Counsellors.
Tribal Referral Services.
Integrated Treatment Centres

Birth Waiting Rooms in 21 Tribal PHCs

The Tribal Birth Waiting Room is a facility built at foothill Primary Health Centres (PHCs) where expectant Tribal mothers, along with one attendant, can stay for seven days to ensure a safe delivery. During their stay, they receive nutritious food, institutional care, and transportation support after delivery.

Pilot Initiative

Pilot project initiated during 2008-09 in two PHCs located in Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts.

State Expansion

Following positive outcomes, additional Birth Waiting Rooms were established in tribal and foothill PHCs.

PIP 2024-26

Four additional Birth Waiting Rooms were approved under PIP 2024-26.

Current Coverage

Total number of Birth Waiting Rooms increased to 21 across the State.
It was observed that admitting expectant Tribal mothers in advance, who face difficulties accessing healthcare facilities due to remote locations and geographical barriers, can significantly improve the chances of a safe delivery under institutional care, thereby helping to reduce Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR). If a referral to a Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (CEmONC) centre is necessary, it can be arranged in a timely manner.
 

Referral Services in Tribal Districts

The State has a well-established emergency referral system established through National Ambulance Services (NAS). In order to reach those tribal villages which are inaccessible by regular ambulances, four-wheel drive vehicles suitably equipped as ambulances have been provided in 14 identified points in tribal / hilly areas. These vehicles ensure timely referral during emergencies to higher referral centres and prevent adverse outcomes in the tribal community.

Special Tribal Health Initiatives

Tribal Bed Grant Scheme

Tribal Bed Grant is a scheme exclusively for Tribal people where the tribal patient avails the services like hospitalisation, free diagnostics, drugs for IP, surgery and food in hospitals run by Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). The scheme is being operated through 2 DARPAN registered NGOs ASHWINI (Gudalur) and NWTWS (Ambalamoola) in the Nilgiris with a MOU between the DHO and the NGO’s.

Tribal Counsellors

Tribal counsellors who belong to the tribal community, have been placed in 10 Government Hospitals in the Tribal districts. They act as a link between health systems and tribal community while creating awareness on health and motivating healthy living practices.
 

Sickle Cell Anaemia Programme through Non-Government Organizations

Sickle Cell Anaemia programme is being implemented by NHM-TN through Tribal NGOs NAWA and ASHWINI in two districts i.e. the Nilgiris (Kothagiri, Gudalur and Coonor Blocks) and Coimbatore districts (Perinayankenpalayam and Karmadai blocks). A regular screening followed by standard treatment and marriage counselling are provided in order to ease the burden of Sickle Cell Disease from tribal communities in the catchment areas.

Prevention and Control of Haemoglobinopathies

Among the South Indian States, Tamil Nadu is the first state to implement Prevention and Control of Haemoglobinopathies programme for early detection of Haemoglobinopathies like Sickle Cell Anaemia and Thalassemia among the tribal population. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
The screening for Haemoglobinopathies (Sickle Cell Anaemia and Thalassemia) in adolescent children studying in 10th and 12th standard and unmarried school dropouts above the age of 14 is implemented in 30 selected tribal blocks in 14 Districts since November 2017.
30 Selected Tribal Blocks
14 Districts Covered
2017 Programme Implementation Since

Integrated Treatment Centres for Haemophilia & Haemoglobinopathies

To provide continuum of care and services for children/adults affected with Haemophilia and Haemoglobinopathies, comprehensive Integrated Treatment Centres have been established at regional Government Medical Colleges. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
10 Integrated Treatment Centres
Institute of Child Health and Hospital for Children, Chennai-8 (Nodal Centre)
Government Mohan Kumara Mangalam Medical College Hospital, Salem
Government Dharmapuri Medical College Hospital, Dharmapuri
Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai
Government Theni Medical College Hospital, Theni
Government Vellore Medical College Hospital, Vellore
Government Annal Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Tiruchirappalli
Government Kanyakumari Medical College Hospital, Asaripallam
Government Coimbatore Medical College Hospital, Coimbatore
Government Villupuram Medical College Hospital, Villupuram
These centres are beneficial for the children/adults requiring frequent blood/factor transfusions and providing iron chelation therapy for transfusion dependent haemoglobinopathies. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}

Tribal Mobile Medical Units

To augment the Mobile Outreach Services in tribal and hard to reach areas, in addition to regular MMUs, 20 Tribal Mobile Medical Units are being operationalized through Non-Governmental Organizations in tribal blocks of 14 Districts.
Tribal Mobile Medical Units
20 Tribal MMU
14 Districts Covered
PM : JANMANN
105 MMU
21 Districts Covered

Medical Officer

Clinical consultation and treatment

Staff Nurse

Patient care and screening support

Lab Technician

Diagnostic and laboratory services

Driver

Outreach and mobility support
The Tribal Mobile Medical team conducts minor ailment clinics, antenatal screening,Communicable and  Non-Communicable Disease screening, laboratory investigations, free drug distribution and referral services to the higher centres. In addition, the team screens children above 14 years studying in 10th and 12th standards, including school dropouts, for Haemoglobinopathies traits. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
PM-JANMAN -Programme :  Under Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN), which is a time-bound mission to saturate all Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) habitations with essential services, the Government of Tamil Nadu has taken significant strides in extending healthcare access to the most remote tribal communities. Under this flagship initiative, 105 MMU teams comprising both Regular and Tribal Mobile Medical Units have been exclusively deployed across 21 districts of the State, ensuring comprehensive coverage of all PVTG habitations and delivering continuous, quality medical care at the doorstep of the most geographically isolated tribal communities.
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