Thrissur: Babies born to Adivasi parents in Attapady don’t have the capacity to digest their mothers’ milk, says a study by the Ayurveda Medical Association. After conducting a year-long study at three of the remotest hamlets, Thekke Kadampara, Vadakke Kadampara and Keeripathy, the report says children are born with severe liver malfunction which causes indigestion.
“Because of this, even mother’s milk cannot be digested. This is the main reason for the high rate of infant deaths in the region. Children are not able to produce enough ‘Chyle’, an enzyme which helps digestion of food and release of energy to the blood”, says Dr Asmabi, a gynaecologist.
A 12-member team of the Ayurveda Medical Association undertook the study from February 2013 and the report was readied last month.
During this period, the medical team gave classical ayurveda medicines for proper liver function and on an average, the weight of the babies went up by 1.85 kg.
Association district secretary Dr Kesava Prasad said the digestive system of the people ought to be made stronger. “We have presented a report regarding this to P.K. Jayalakshmi, Minister for the Welfare of Backward Communities”, he added.
