Three Recover While 8 Undergo Treatment at GB Pant Hospital in Port Blair

Port Blair, Aug 27: A total of eleven members of the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG), the Great Andamanese have been tested positive to the corona virus. The total excludes the two non-tribal spouses among the tribal group, who were also tested positive.

Meanwhile, the Andaman officials today confirmed that out of the 11, three have successfully recovered while the remaining eight are being treated at the GB Pant Hospital in Port Blair. One among the non-tribal spouses has also recovered from the infection. Utmost care is being given to the tribal members, with a hope that all are able to recover.

Earlier the AAJVS workers entrusted to look after the welfare of the PVTGs had also tested positive and is considered to be one of the sources of spreading infection among the Great Andamanese. However, the officials today informed that there are no more positive cases among the AAJVS staffs. This comes as a relief, though the surge in the COVID-19 cases in the A&N Islands has raised enough fear for the PVTGs who are already vulnerable to the modern diseases.

The Great Andamanese are a small group of just over 50 survivors. When the British colonized the islands, their number was estimated to be more than 5000 in the 1850s. The Great Andamanese which originally were a group of 10 sept, with different languages had suffered from the long term impacts of diseases introduced by the colonizers. As on date, seven sept among the ten have become extinct. In April this year, Licho, the last speaker of the Sare Great Andamanese language, died after suffering for years from multiple health problems, including chronic tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis and alcoholism are widespread among the handful of them remaining. This also makes the Great Andamanese particularly vulnerable to Covid-19.

Meanwhile concerns are also raised across the world for the welfare of the Ang (Jarawa) tribe, which now number above 500. The arrest of eight poachers from inside the Ang reserve more than a week ago, especially during the lockdown pronounced by the A&N Administration has become a serious matter of concern. Though there are restricted movements on the Andaman Trunk Road that cuts through the Ang reserve, yet the intruders in the form of poachers pose a threat, which cannot be overruled.