During the monsoon season, residents in the Agency areas of Mulugu face heightened risks from seasonal diseases, exacerbated by challenges in accessing healthcare from primary health centers. Addressing this critical issue, Dr. A Appaiah, the District Medical and Health Officer (DMHO) of Mulugu, along with a team of four medical assistants and local volunteers, undertook a challenging journey.
They traversed a hillock in dense forests and crossed the Kanchera stream to reach Penugodium village in Wazeedu mandal. Here, they organized a medical camp on Wednesday to provide essential healthcare services to tribal residents. The heavy rainfall in Wazeedu mandal, causing overflow in water bodies like the Bogatha waterfall from upper Chhattisgarh catchment areas, has severely disrupted normal life in these remote areas.
Dr. Appaiah highlighted the plight of tribal communities in villages such as Gummadidhodi, Wazade, Tupakulagudem, Cherukuru, Penugodium, Eturunagaram, Mangapet, Tadvai, Venkatapuram, and Wazeedu. These areas, inhabited by Gothi Koya tribals, suffer from inadequate road infrastructure, making it exceedingly difficult for residents to access healthcare facilities.
In an interview with TNIE, Dr. Appaiah expressed, “Upon receiving information about eleven tribal families residing in isolated Penugodium without proper transport and access, we decided to conduct a medical camp during the monsoon.” Despite encountering swollen streams due to heavy rains, they traveled 16 kilometers through the Agency area with the assistance of local tribals to reach Penugodium village.
At the medical camp, the team conducted thorough medical check-ups, raised awareness about seasonal diseases, and distributed mosquito nets and essential supplies to the local tribals. Their efforts were acknowledged by Health Minister Damodar Rajanarasimha, who praised Dr. Appaiah and his team for their dedication in delivering vital medical services under challenging conditions.
The minister emphasized the government’s commitment to improving healthcare access in remote regions, directing medical officials to enhance services for residents facing seasonal disease risks in Mulugu district’s Agency areas.