ELURU: The habit of toddy consumption seemingly takes a heavy toll on the health of Kondreddies, a primitive tribal group living in the agency of West Godavari district.

According to D.S. Sarma, District Medical and Health Officer, the addiction of toddy consumption causes the formation of hookworms in the large intestines of the victims. The tribals, suffering from hookworms, are vulnerable to anaemia as the worms in microscopic form thrive on human blood, Mr. Sarma has told The Hindu . The problem is found to be endemic in Polavaram and Buttayagudem mandals in the agency.

No stock

As Primary Health Centres ran out of the stocks of iron and folic tablets used for treatment of anaemia, the Department of Medical and Health is eagerly waiting for the arrival of stocks. The stocks are expected to reach PHCs from the Andhra Pradesh Vydya Vidhana Parishad by third week of May.

It has been decided to tackle the problem of anaemia in the agency jointly by the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) at Kotaramachandrapuram and the Department of Medical and Health by distributing the tablets among the victims. As for the weaning of tribals away from the habit of toddy consumption, it requires a long-term and multi-pronged strategy involving local communities and non-governmental organisations, says Mr. Sarma. The DM&HO has also said the department is preparing ground to supply mosquito nets to tribals as part of combating the incidence of malaria. As per the latest data, the agency, comprising Polavaram, Bhuttayagudem and Jeelugumilli mandals, registered 320 malaria cases last year as against 126 cases in the current year from January to March.

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