Health Guard Scheme

 Acknowledging health as major issue among the Paradhi community, DDSP organized several health checkup camps for Paradhis near their habitations. The common ailments found among them are Skin diseases like scabies, fungal infection, eczema, stomach ailments, Gastro enteritis, Conjunctivitis, Mumps, Measles, Malaria, Dengue, etc. Besides these, ailments like arthritis, oral and dental problems mostly due to drinking and other habits, are common.  Malnutrition among children is also found. Most of these diseases are due to unhygienic living habits among the community. Eating habits like eating stale food, raw meat dried in open air for preservation also cause many of these problems. 

Paradis have many problems in accessing public and private medical services. These problems are geographical, economic as well as attitudinal. Expanding primary medical services to treat common ailments like cough and cold, fever, headache, dehydration, dysentery, diarrhea, worms, scabies, muscle strains, wounds, conjunctivitis, year-round pain, toothache, common allergies, etc. could be the answer. It was felt that there was an urgent need for primary health care that would reach the villages and treat common ailments at the doorstep. This would help in rooting out the problem at the earliest and securing access to high-level services for proper treatment. In this context, DDSP has launched a paramedical scheme called "Arogya Rakshak Yojana". Health guards provide primary health care and advise on hygiene, diet, etc. Health guards also guide people to doctors and hospitals for necessary treatment as and when required. At present 30 trained health Guards provide services, medicines in 30 Paradhi Bedas.