On Covid SOS call, Kerala health workers cross river, trek several kilometres to reach tribal village
Last week, three members from one family in the settlement had developed a high fever and were in need of immediate medical attention.
Members of the medical team crossing the Bhavani Puzha river. (Express photo) After receiving an SOS call, a medical team from Puthur Domiciliary Care Centre (DCC) reached a tribal village, which is 20 km from Attapadi in Palakkad and comprises around 100 people of Irula, Mudugar and Kurumba tribes. Last week, three members from one family in the settlement had developed high fever and were in need of immediate medical attention.
The journey to the Murugula village wasn’t, however, easy. The team realised they can use their vehicles only up to the bank of the Bhavani Puzha river and that they had to cross the river on foot thereafter.
Team members crossing the river on foot. (Express photo)
After crossing the river Saturday morning, the team then trekked another eight km inside the Attappadi forest before they reached the village. Once there, they conducted rapid antigen tests for Covid-19 of more than 30 people, of which seven tested covid positive. They were shifted to the Puthur DDC.
The medical team at the tribal village. (Express photo)
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