Attappadi, one of the largest and most backward tribal hamꦯlets in Keraඣla, will soon have an exclusive intensive care unit (ICU) for children as part of the state government's efforts to ensure better healthcare facilities for marginalised children.
Health Minister Veena George gave directions to make the children's ICU ready at Kottathara Tribal Speciality Hospital here by September 15 and ad♋ministrative sanction had already been given to allot Rs 7 crore for the overall development of the hospital, officℱial sources said.
The minister, during a joint meeting of the Departments of Health and Women and Child Development on 🤡Sunday, a🍬lso gave directions to speed up the steps in this regard and elevate the local hospital to an advanced women and child care health facility, a statement said here.
George's directions came in the wake of continuing infant mortality reported among the tribal children in Attappadi due to various health 𒊎issues and demands for more advanced health facilities in the region.
The minister directed the District Medical Officer of Palakkad to conduct an investigation i💝nto the complaint that patients are being unnecessarily referred from the Kottathara hospi✅tal, it said.
Anganwadi workers, Kudumbashree activists, tribal promoters and health workers should intensify field-level activities, she sai🃏d, adding that special care should be𝄹 paid in the case of pregnant women and children in the hamlets.
The possibility to incorporate the ethnic delicacies in the nutrition plan of tribal people would also be𒁃 explored. The objective of🍬 the initiative is to get the tribal community to get all the benefits of the government scheme completely, she added.
One of the latest instances of a child death reported in Attappadi was that of a newborn baby ꧅in Sholayur soon after his birth on August 7, sources said.
(With PTI Inputs)
