Healing at the Margins: An Intern’s Journey into Wayanad’s Tribal Heartland – Anamika
Growing up in Mananthavady, I was no stranger to the rugged beauty and quiet hardships of Wayanad. Yet, it was during my tenure as a Physician Associate intern from the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS), Kochi, that I truly understood what healthcare means to the vulnerable communities nestled within these hills.
Inspired by Dr. Srikumar at AIMS, who spoke passionately of the humanitarian outreach led by the Mata Amritanandamayi Math, I sought permission to complete my clinical internship at the Amrita Kripa Charitable Hospital (AKCH) in Kalpetta, Wayanad. What awaited me was a masterclass in compassionate healthcare. Supported as a 10-bedded project by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, New Delhi, AKCH serves as a vital lifeline for the region’s marginalized indigenous population. Each day, nearly 200 patients arrive at the outpatient wing seeking relief, with roughly 20 admitted for critical day-care treatments.
The true soul of the hospital lies in its dedicated medical fraternity: an exceptional medical team comprising world class doctors, such as Dr. Sanjeev Vasudevan MD (University of Oxford, UK & Trivandrum Medical College), Dr. Ageesh MD (Calicut Medical College), Dr. Ajitha Sanjeev MBBS DA (Calicut Medical College), and Dr. Keerthana, working shoulder-to-shoulder with nursing, pharmacy, and laboratory personnel drawn predominantly from local tribal communities.
“The staff and clinicians exude a profound, infectious joy and contentment. Witnessing their service and the grace with which they go about delivering it, has reshaped my perspective on medical practice, redefining job satisfaction through the lens of pure service.”
For many indigenous families residing in settlements deep within the tropical forest, navigating the rough terrain while sick is an insurmountable hurdle. When patients cannot make the journey, the hospital goes to them. Accompanying the doctors on regular outreach visits into remote forest colonies has been the most transformative chapter of my clinical work, allowing me to contribute directly to the well-being of the native community.
The steadfast support from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs alongside the enduring vision of the Mata Amritanandamayi Math ensures that quality, dignified care reaches the forest’s edge. As both a daughter of Wayanad and an aspiring healthcare professional, I carry immense gratitude for this sanctuary of healing, an institution proving every day that medicine is at its finest when directed toward those who need it most in the world.