Pact inked to set up health observatory for tribals in state

Bhubaneswar: The ST and SC development department signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC), Bhubaneswar, on Wednesday for establishing a tribal health observatory (TriHOb), a first in the country for ensuring equity in tribal health in Odisha.
The MoU was signed between principal secretary of the department Ranjana Chopra and director of RMRC, Dr Sanghamita Pati.
TriHOb will establish a repository on the health of tribal population of Odisha.
It is designed to be effective and evidence based, policy oriented and a virtually established centre, performing systematic and ongoing observation on disease burden, health seeking behaviour and healthcare delivery system pertaining to tribal health in the state, sources said.
Chairperson of Mo School Abhiyan, Sushmita Bagchi, launched the Odisha Tribal Family Health Survey which would be the first of its kind and comprehensive survey among tribal communities in India, where high quality demographic and health data will be made available for informed policy making.
This study will lay the foundation for further longitudinal cohort studies and implementation 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.
A compendium on evidence based researches on sickle cell anaemia in India and a report on Odisha Tribal Serosurvey conducted by the ST & SC dpartment and RMRC was also released on the occasion.
The compendium is the first of its kind comprising all research on sickle cell anaemia in India and will be useful for all researches, policymakers and healthcare experts to make any progress in the field.