In the forested hills of Wayanad, where India’s indigenous Paniya people have long battled isolation and neglect, young Dr Keerthana from Amrita Kripa Charitable Hospital in Kalpetta, led a medical camp on January 5th 2026, that brought urgent care to 60 patients, including pregnant women and children.

Joined by nurses Sheela and Vineetha, and pharmacist Aswathi, the team delivered check-ups, medicines and advice to a community marooned by geography and poverty – a stark reminder of the structural inequities shadowing India’s tribal fringes.

The camp forms part of an ambitious daily afternoon programme, with the Amrita Kripa Hospital team now rotating through one tribal hamlet each day to confront chronic gaps in primary healthcare access.

For residents of Trikaipatta, a settlement carved from dense Western Ghats terrain, the intervention signals rare hope, as Dr Keerthana’s quiet resolve underscores a deepening commitment to equitable care in one of Kerala’s most marginalised corners.