Odisha to come up with India's first Tribal Health observatory

Bhubaneswar: Odisha is set to come up with India's "only" observatory that will establish a repository on the health of the tribal population in the state, officials said on Wednesday. 

A memorandum of understanding was inked in this regard between the ST and SC Development Department and the RMRC, a regional centre of the Indian Council of Medical Research, they said.

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The Tribal Health Observatory (TriHOb) is the "first in the country", and designed to be an effective, evidence-based and policy-oriented centre, the Information Department said in a release. 

It will perform systematic and ongoing observation on disease burden, health-seeking behaviour and healthcare delivery system pertaining to tribal health in the state.

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During the event where the MoU was signed, 'Mo School' Abhiyan chairperson Sushmita Bagchi also launched a tribal family health survey among the indigenous communities. The Statesman reported that MoU was signed between Ranjana Chopra, Principal Secretary, ST & SC Development Department and Dr Sanghamita Pati, Director RMRC, ICMR, in the presence of Sushmita Bagchi, Chairperson, Mo School Abhiyan the Chief Guest of the occasion.

This study will lay the foundation for further longitudinal cohort studies and the implementation of policy oriented research. This study would provide an idea about the reach of the health programmes and policy interventions and suggest course correction wherever required said the officials.

The 'Mo School' (My School) initiative aims to create a platform for people to connect, collaborate and contribute to revamping government and government-aided schools in Odisha, they added.

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A Compendium on Evidence Based Researches on Sickle Cell Anemia in India and a report on Odisha Tribal Sero-survey conducted by the ST and SC department and RMRC Bhubaneswar was also released on the occasion. The compendium is the first of its kind having all the research in the field of sickle cell in India and this will be useful for all researches, policy makers and healthcare experts to make any progress in the sickle cell field.