Govt. Sets Up Tribal Multipurpose Center for Healthcare in Malappuram

Thiruvananthapuram: The first Tribal Multipurpose Center in Kerala, located in Valamthode, Chaliyar Panchayat, Malappuram District, has been completed. This center, granted by the Health Department, aims to ensure comprehensive healthcare for tribal settlements in difficult areas.

Health Minister Veena George stated that the purpose of the center is to provide all necessary services under one roof in remote tribal areas where access to various government services and basic facilities is limited. In addition to the services provided by public health centers, this hub will offer a range of additional services. The center operates in collaboration with the Health Department, ICDS, IDTP, and the local self-government department. It will also provide services from a Junior Public Health Nurse. The minister further mentioned that local community members, including Uru Mithram, Anganwadi workers, and others from the tribal settlements in the Valamthode area, will work alongside the center in its operations.

Valamthode is a hilly area in Chaliyar Grama Panchayat, which borders the Malappuram and Kozhikode districts. To reach the Family Health Center of Chaliyar, one must navigate difficult pathways through tribal settlements such as Vendettumpoyil, Ambumala, Supremenagar, Thottapalli, Nayadampoyil, and Kandilappara. Providing medical facilities to the tribal population in these towns has been challenging due to limited transportation access through the mountain pass. Understanding these difficulties, the center has been built at a cost of Rs 67.5 lakh to ensure comprehensive health protection.

This center will also facilitate connections between tribal communities and self-employment training centers, helping skilled tribal individuals find employment in government, semi-government, and private sectors based on their educational qualifications. Additionally, it will serve as a single-window system, providing information about various socio-economic schemes. The center will also be used for conducting awareness programs related to health issues.