Tribal Health Initiative

Tribal Health Initiative (THI) is a non profit organisation located in the Sittilingi valley in Dharmapuri district, Tamil Nadu. It works for the welfare of the local community who are predominantly Malavasi tribals. THI was founded by Dr. Regi George and Dr. Lalitha Regi in 1993 to provide quality healthcare at an affordable rate to the tribal population of Sittilingi village in rural Tamil Nadu with just with just one Outpatient unit (OP). As of 2010 it had grown to include a 24-bed hospital with a labour room, neonatal unit, operation theatre, diagnostic laboratory and imaging facilities, a community health outreach programme, an organic farming initiative and a craft initiative which aims to revive traditional Lambadi embroidery.[1]

As of 2018, THI is a full-fledged hospital with six doctors and 30 nurses attending to close to one lakh patients every year. The hospital has received an ISO-certification. Hospital has modern facilities like an advanced Intensive Care Unit (ICU), a dental clinic, a labour room, a neo-natal room, an emergency room and a fully functional laboratory.[2]

Brief history

Tribal Health Initiative was founded in 1993 by a young doctor couple originally from Kerala, Dr. Regi George, an anesthesiologist, and Dr. Lalitha Regi, a gynecologist who were inspired by Mahatma Gandhi and the vision of Health For All. They are fondly called Gi and Tha by THI staff and the local community. The project started off as a mud and brick hut from where Dr. Regi and Dr. Lalitha ran an out patient clinic in the mornings.[3] The hut doubled up as a labour room or emergency room when required. A few years later Action Aid funded the construction of a hospital building consisting of an operation theatre, labour room and inpatient ward.

Impact

The IMR (Infant Mortality Rate) in the region has come down to 30 deaths per 1000 live births from a staggering 150/1000. This is among the lowest in India. No Cases of malnutrition and maternal death is almost zero. THI also supports livelihood promotion by way of its craft and organic farming initiatives. Approximately 500 farmers are part of the Sittinlingi Organic Farmers' Association (SOFA) through which sustainable farming methods have been introduced to them.[2]

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References
  1. Tribal Health Initiative website. Available at http://www.tribalhealth.org [Accessed on 18 March 2010]
  2. "This doctor couple has been healing the tribal folk of Sittilingi in TN for over 2 decades". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  3. Sivanand M. (2001) The Good Doctors of Sittilingi Reader's Digest September 2001 issue
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