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Health | Self-taught paramedic bridges healthcare divide -T Appala Naidu

Self-taught paramedic bridges healthcare divide -T Appala Naidu

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published Published on Dec 18, 2018   modified Modified on Dec 18, 2018
-The Hindu

College dropout Jeeva turns life saver for residents of a remote island in the Krishna estuary

EELACHETLADIBBA (Andhra Pradesh):
Four years ago, when 22-year-old Sykam Jeeva dropped out of junior college unable to cope with academics, he began working at a clinic.

A resident of Eelachetladibba island in the Krishna estuary, Mr. Jeeva picked up hands-on basic medical skills at the facility in Nagayalanka, the nearest town on the mainland.

Today, his training has proved a godsend for the island’s 430 families.

Cut off from the mainland, the island of around 1,500 acres is home to a fishing community of around 1,600 people and lacks even rudimentary medical facilities. A female nurse appointed by an NGO to offer medical services in the island left last year after her marriage. The island is not served by the 108 emergency services either.

“Our people fondly call me ‘doctor’. But I am a person having basic knowledge in first aid. I attend only to fever, cold and other small health problems. I never deal with pregnancy related issues and am available 24x7,” Mr. Jeeva told The Hindu.

“On being forced by the families, I attempt to provide a suitable injection to the children. However, I prefer to send children to the nearest hospital,” he added. Lanke Nagalakshmi, the anganwadi centre assistant on the island, said a team of nurses and a medical supervisor visits the island on the fourth Saturday of every month to provide vaccines for pregnant women.

Since 2017, 12 women have required pre-and ante-natal services on the island. Two pregnant women are now registered with the anganwadi that provides medical and nutritional supplements.

Risky ride

In her 60s, Ratna Kumari Sykam told The Hindu: “Our island is cut-off from the mainland. In the case of medical emergency, we take a four-hour boat ride across the Krishna to reach the hospital at Nagayalanka. Hiring a boat costs Rs. 800 to Rs. 1,000, especially if it is an emergency at night.”

“In the case of pregnant women, we seek blessings from the god and board the boat to reach the hospital. The punt, which was granted by the State government earlier, has been abandoned due to repairs for the past three years,” Butchamma Sykam told The Hindu.

“The country boat is a lifeline for our island, for catching fish and ferrying patients,” said Ms. Butchamma. Many villagers say the life of patients is in the hands of god until they manage to reach the doctor by crossing the river.

The Hindu, 17 December, 2018, please click here to access

The Hindu, 17 December, 2018, https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/self-taught-paramedic-bridges-healthcare-divide/article25759284.ece?homepage=true&fbclid=IwAR0lBi9jGjKKlHx1Cg6EX


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