A Traditional orthopaedic Specialist
Source: The Hindu (http://www.hinduonnet.com/2008/04/03/stories/2008040352400300.htm)
Keeping a tradition alive
Source: The Hindu (http://www.hinduonnet.com/2008/04/03/stories/2008040352400300.htm)
Keeping a tradition alive
Ch. Santakar
KORAPUT: Ranu Bhatra, a tribal man in his seventies, has corrected at least 800 fractured bones in the last six months alone and has been continuing rendering such services at Girla, a remote tribal village in Kotpad block of Koraput district, for the last 50 years . Ranu has not learnt a single letter in the alphabet and has never heard of Sushruta or Dhanwantari, the legendary ayurvedic practitioners who had offered health services in the Vedic age even before the modern science had evolved . But Ranu has been the hope for hundreds of poor tribals while using traditional methods like bamboo and natural herbs to repair broken bones in different parts of the body .
In the last 50 years people have received the utmost care and he has been successful in providing treatment for minor injuries to many complicated cases, Ranu said. He moves his palm over the broken part and understands the nature of the crack by feeling through his fingers, Tirupati Kendu, a young patient who was sleeping in the small health care centre at Girla, said. And it was faith in him that was drawing patients from far and wide, Chandra Sekhar Majhi, former president of Koraput Zilla Parishad and a resident of the village said . Patients like Krushna Kendu, a young boy from Kenduguda in Boipariguda block who was injured in a truck accident preferred to get the care from Ranu even after visiting the district headquarter hospital at Koraput, he added. Krushna was advised to go to Visakhpatnam for getting treatment for his critical fracture. But going there was not within the capacity of the parents of Krushna and hence was brought to Girla for treatment, he said.
No one is asked to pay any fixed amount for the treatment and is allowed to offer according to their capacity ranging from Rs.20 to Rs.500, Ranu said. The patient has to purchase the cotton cloth from Kotpad market and bamboo plates are being arranged by the centre. A paste is prepared from the locally available medicinal herbs and tied with the bamboo plates on the crack.
KORAPUT: Ranu Bhatra, a tribal man in his seventies, has corrected at least 800 fractured bones in the last six months alone and has been continuing rendering such services at Girla, a remote tribal village in Kotpad block of Koraput district, for the last 50 years . Ranu has not learnt a single letter in the alphabet and has never heard of Sushruta or Dhanwantari, the legendary ayurvedic practitioners who had offered health services in the Vedic age even before the modern science had evolved . But Ranu has been the hope for hundreds of poor tribals while using traditional methods like bamboo and natural herbs to repair broken bones in different parts of the body .
In the last 50 years people have received the utmost care and he has been successful in providing treatment for minor injuries to many complicated cases, Ranu said. He moves his palm over the broken part and understands the nature of the crack by feeling through his fingers, Tirupati Kendu, a young patient who was sleeping in the small health care centre at Girla, said. And it was faith in him that was drawing patients from far and wide, Chandra Sekhar Majhi, former president of Koraput Zilla Parishad and a resident of the village said . Patients like Krushna Kendu, a young boy from Kenduguda in Boipariguda block who was injured in a truck accident preferred to get the care from Ranu even after visiting the district headquarter hospital at Koraput, he added. Krushna was advised to go to Visakhpatnam for getting treatment for his critical fracture. But going there was not within the capacity of the parents of Krushna and hence was brought to Girla for treatment, he said.
No one is asked to pay any fixed amount for the treatment and is allowed to offer according to their capacity ranging from Rs.20 to Rs.500, Ranu said. The patient has to purchase the cotton cloth from Kotpad market and bamboo plates are being arranged by the centre. A paste is prepared from the locally available medicinal herbs and tied with the bamboo plates on the crack.
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