Ewa Kopacz said, “I am a doctor - it’s a profession that may be considered a special mission, a devotion. It calls for involvement, respect and willingness to help all other people.” 46-years-old Dr Satyajeet Sahu of Raipur has been dedicatedly endeavouring to ameliorate the health conditions of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) of Chhattisgarh. Under the aegis of Progressive Utilisation of Research and Economics (PURE) and Doctors On Street mission, Dr Sahu has been conducting health and awareness camps in the forest clad and tribal dominated villages which has immensely benefited the tribal population.

This alumnus of reputed Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Medical College Raipur and Christian Medical College Vellore has been selflessly conducting numerous health camps amongst primitive tribes Kamaar, Baiga, Birhor, Pando and Hill Korwa. He along with his magnanimous team of nurses, pharmacists, researchers and volunteers have reached the far flung villages of Districts Gariyaband, Mahasamund, Manendragarh-Chirmiri- Bharatpur, Korba and has spread awareness amongst more than 250 tribal beneficiaries, who have been virtually cut off from the mainstream of life. Village Kamaartola, Beetideeh, Thaggaon, Singhghat, Cheetapara, Cachia, Teetardand, Chintaguda etc. have been amongst the extremely secluded places wherein Dr Satyajeet had organized his camps.

“More than 30 percent of our state’s population comprises tribes. In the remote tribal areas, access to basic health services often remains poor. And the villagers demand quality check-ups, medicines and treatment. So, when our health camps started, the response was overwhelming. What I have noticed is that the major tribal health problems are high rates of malnutrition, anaemia, detrimental effects due to excessive consumption of alcohol, skin diseases and other infections owing to lack of hygiene and cleanliness. Often malnourished and anaemic pregnant women give birth to low-weight babies. Many children are left out of the immunisation coverage. There has been an absence of dietary diversity amongst the tribal”, pointed Dr Sahu, who has been a renowned diabetologist and consultant physician practicing in the capital city and have also been eulogized by the Health Department, Govt of Chhattisgarh, for his outstanding work during the Corona pandemic.

“To arrest these health problems of the tribal community, we have been striving to spread awareness through our camps regarding the importance of balanced diet, sanitation, immunisation and doing away with alcohol consumption. We have been distributing free medicines, counselling them to always visit the nearest Govt health centres and consult the mitanins and doctors and not to ignore their health problems which would further aggravate their poor health conditions”, he added.

Kartala Samaru Ram, mukhiya (head) of Birhor tribe at village Chintaguda, said, ‘Our people have been hugely benefited with the camp of Dr Sahu sir, who has enlightened us regarding our health problems’. While Dhaniram, head of Hill Korwa at village Teetardand, said, “We have become more aware as a result of the guidance given to us by Dr Sahu and have requested him to visit our village again”. Similarly, Shivchand, head of Baiga tribe of village Singhghat has also wholeheartedly praised the health camp activities of Dr Sahu. Ramnandan Yadav, who has

been appointed by Govt as health supervisor for Birhor and Hill Korwa tribe at Kudmura Public Health Centre, said, “We had extended all possible support to the health camp of Dr Sahu and his counselling to the tribal had been very effective and fruitful”. Expressing his philosophy as a medico, Dr Sahu said, “You see! I wanted to break the wrong pre-conceived notion prevalent amongst many people that doctors now-a-days are behaving like a capitalist with a sole motive to earn money only. Look!! the main motto of being a doctor is to serve the suffering humanity. Our primitive tribes are the most vulnerable, deprived and under-privileged community. I aspire to establish a fine rapport with them and want that the benefits of medical science should reach even to a common man residing in our forests.” In fact, Dr Sahu has a great communication skill and has been very popular amongst his patients. In the coming future, he has planned to organise a health camp amongst other primitive tribes like Bhunjiya and Abhujmaria, who have been residing at Naxal infested Bastar. Also, he has envisioned working for rural micro entrepreneurs of Chhattisgarh. In the end it can be said that God cannot be everywhere so He sent the Doctors with excellence and selflessness. Dr Satyajeet has been truly exemplary in transforming lives of particularly vulnerable tribal groups in rural Chhattisgarh