Nagpur updates: Even as cities have set about tackling the novel outbreak of coronavirus(Covid-19), NGOs working in the tiger reserve buffer zone are also doing their utmost to scan villagers for signs and spread awareness of the dreaded infection.
Satpuda Foundation, an NGO working for tiger protection in Central India, screened 300 people from six villages in the Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR) buffer zone, Maharashtra, in a major awareness and health check-up camp for tribals.
A special Satpuda Foundation Mobile Health Service (MHS) is supporting Pench tribal villagers by educating them about the dos and don’t save themselves from getting contaminated with coronavirus. During the novel coronavirus outbreak, the MHS, which was introduced to help local people living across the reserve in January 2014, was useful.
“While Section 144 has been placed in Nagpur and academic institutions have been closed, in this critical situation, health sector workers work day and night,”said Kishor Rithe, president of the Satpuda Foundation. The mobile health service of Satpuda has been running health camps and providing medical assistance to 300 patients from six villages — Wagholi, Sillari, Khursapar, Sawara, Khapa, and Ghoti.
“Fever and cough sufferers were especially worried about the risk of coronavirus infection. It has been noticed, however, that people there have suffered from regular fever and cough, “Dr. Manohar Khode, who has been serving tribals in Melghat for more than 20 years after the health camps, said.
“The MHS, which also spreads information on doses and does not prevent coronavirus spread, has treated around 70,000 patients over the past six years and has also received additional assistance for chemotherapy, eye surgery, and dental extraction. Medicine is delivered free of charge too, “Rithe said.
Satpuda’s conservation officer Mandar Pingle, Bandu Uike and Dilip Lanjewar announced that similar screenings would be carried out from March 23 in six villages on the Madhya Pradesh side of the Pench buffer zone.
Similarly, Dr. Ashish Satav’s MAHAN (Meditation, Addiction, Education, Health, AIDS and Nutrition), an NGO providing tribals with preventive and curative medical facilities, has also screened many villagers for coronavirus-like symptoms over the last 20 days in the buffer zone of Melghat Tiger Reserve (MTR).
Dr. Satav said, “Our team is spreading awareness among tribals in the tiger reserve buffer out of 35 villages. Amravati was referred to two villagers with corona-like symptoms, but these patients tested negative.”We are generating huge awareness of the precautions to be taken as many villagers are still unaware of the effects of the deadly virus. They were also told not to leave their homes or go outstation, “Dr Satav said. Cap A tribal given medical advice from Pench buffer
