VATIS UPDATE Article

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) conducted a research to find out some tribes in Madhya Pradesh (MP) which were genetically predisposed to tuberculosis (TB). The ICMR’s state-of-art diagnostics van went to tribal areas and a team from the council and MP department of health and family welfare tried to find out answer for the same.

Without concrete studies, the government intervention has had a marginal effect in control of TB among affected tribes. As per an ICMR research paper, there is no nationwide TB burden estimates available for tribal population. One of the most comprehensive data estimates by National Sample Survey for TB carried out between 1955 and 1958 did not include tribal groups. Equipped with sputum microscope and X-ray and a doctor, an ICMR van went in four districts of MP.

Eight vans with ICMR researchers focused on Alirajpur, Barwani, Jhabua and Dindori districts. Experts indicated there is great heterogeneity (diversity) across different tribal groups, which included a sub-category of particularly vulnerable tribes known as primitive tribes that were studied. Tribals face a number of health risks, including infant and maternal mortality, malnutrition, anaemia and malaria