Dr Abhay Bang, who has been working extensively with the tribals of Gadchiroli said that a recent study found as much as 25% of the tribal population from nine states to be hypertensive. The prevalence was as much as 12% in the age-group of 30 to 60% in the elderly. "A curious connection of excessive salt consumption has been found with most of these belts," said Bang.
A National Institute of Nutrition (NIH), Hyderabad study found the consumption of salt to be highest in West Bengal and Odisha. "These are also the states where the percentage of hypertension is very high," said Dr A Laxmaiah from NIH. In Maharashtra, around 6.5% of those surveyed were found to be hypertensive. Besides, sedentary lifestyle and moderate work were also linked with increasing non-communicable disease burden among the tribals.
The experts also emphasised over the use of technology to solve health problems. "They have their own set of problems so the solutions have to be indigenous. With time, they are embracing newer things but there is a conflict," said Bang, adding that mental health problems are also assuming worrying proportions.
"There is a constant conflict with the new world. Oppression and violence, naxalism for instance, also adds to anxiety and stress over time," he said. Bang cited that often the stress manifests in the form of suicides. "Health facilities do not reach the tribals, despite the government making a provision of Rs 5,000 crore," Bang added.
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