Source: UN News: Saturday, 07 February 2026 00:01 AM
In the most remote areas of Tripura, a state in north-eastern India, where rivers are the only means of transport, a vital health campaign is bringing care and hope to isolated communities. In the early morning, the Khawai River flows peacefully through dense forests and hills in the eastern part of India. For the families of Kalicharan Pada, nestled in the Atharamura mountain range of Tripura, this river is not only a lifeline but also the only means of transportation. Kalicharan Pada is a small hamlet in Nunachera village in Mungiakami block of Khawai district, which has no access roads and no regular public services. To reach here, one has to travel about five hours by boat through dense forests and difficult terrain. Kalicharan Pada has long been one of the toughest challenges for the public health system – it is as if this settlement is off the map. Access to the underprivileged Considering the gravity of the situation, the district administration World Health Organization In collaboration with the National Public Health Surveillance Network of India, this village was declared a high-risk priority area. After this, no time was wasted in any formal or routine activities, but a concerted effort was made to deliver essential health services directly to the people by crossing rivers and forests. Finally, when the team reached the village, it brought with it not only vaccines and medical supplies. Frontline health workers were accompanied by senior officials, sending a clear message that reaching communities long cut off from health services is a real priority. © WHO India/Padmaram Jamatia The only way to reach Kalicharan Pada, nestled within the Atharamura hills of Tripura, is through the Khawai River. In addition to vaccinations, the camp also provided basic health services that addressed long-standing needs. But the most impactful things happened during general discussions with villagers. Sitting with families and listening to them, health workers got a first-hand look at the everyday lives of people who had been inaccessible until now – the missed facilities, the arduous journeys and the feeling of being forgotten. These conversations transformed the data into human experiences and highlighted the structural challenges faced by communities living in remote areas. Impact of the campaign Rajat Pant, District Collector and Magistrate, Khawai, said, “Despite the difficult terrain and remote location, children here are receiving vaccines on time. This shows the district’s strong commitment to leaving no one behind.” An integrated health camp was set up to provide last mile health services, which included vaccination, screening for non-communicable diseases, malaria awareness, care of pregnant women, Village Health and Nutrition Day services and distribution of anthelmintic drugs. He said, “The field team is working continuously, so that remote and difficult to reach areas are not deprived of essential health services.” He also said that unsafe home deliveries have now completely stopped in the village and all pregnant women are going to government health institutions for delivery. Emphasizing on continuous progress, he directed the District Health Department to make regular visits and explore possibilities of constructing alternative roads for better connectivity. © WHO India/Swapan Das The team from the World Health Organization’s National Public Health Surveillance Network, along with the district administration and frontline health workers, reached Kalicharan Para to understand the needs of the community. This journey of systemic change did not end at Kalicharan Pada. The lessons learned traveled to the state headquarters, where the World Health Organization’s National Public Health Surveillance Network met with senior officials to consider how services could be further improved. Together they discussed sustainable and scalable solutions that strengthen immunization and essential primary health services in hard-to-reach areas – so that a child’s healthy future does not depend on where he or she lives. Today, Kalicharan Pada is an example of what collaboration and commitment can do when it comes together. They come, and when systems adapt to reach people, real change is possible. In the hills of Atharamura, with a river flowing quietly through the forests, a clear message echoes – no child should be left behind, no matter how far away the destination is.
