The health situation of Bedia community in WestBengal & Bangladesh

Bedia, is a community in Indian subcontinent, which are generally a nomad population. For the last 13 hundred years they are living in this vast area including India and Bangladesh. 

Bedias are such a tribe, which are generally oppressed by the other member of the society. They are neglected in social system, as well as in the state or nation. There are various castes in Bedias. But, specially we know only the Bedes’ whom are ‘Snake Charmers’. Although these snake charmers are the greater portion of bedia community. However, all the bedias including the snake charmers, are living in such a vulnerable condition in health issues.

These bedias are generally ignored their diseases. They do not want to go to the physicians for their treatment. For the women in bedia family it is a major problem, their guardian always discourage them not to go to a doctor of health centre. The bedia women are forced to get married in their early ages, like 10 to 12 years. So, as an adolescent girl is not ready physically to handle the new situation which comes her teenage period of life. She suffered various ‘woman disease’ in this period. Moreover, she has to go to outside to mitigate economic crisis, during her menstrual period. It causes a massive health problem for her as well.

There is another concerning issue for bedia women, cyclic pregnancy. Family planning materials don’t reach to them and their husbands are also illiterate about the control system. So, every year pregnancy is creating serious health problem for them. Tetanus is a common health matter for prenatal baby and pregnant mother.

According to World Heath Organization, Pulse polio ratio is the lowest rate in west bengal in India. As a nomad community, bedia child is also in polio risks. Bedia mother are not interested or vaccination team does not reach to the bedia child. Malnutrition, un-hygienic good are another problems for the bedias.

As they are a nomad community, there is no data in the government agencies that how many bedias are infected and how many died in every year in various diseases. So far we have come to know that, there are not specific health program for these ethnic community. Moreover, the general health services do not reach to them.    
The earliest records of bedias show that they are the medicine men-women. They are also providing services for bloodletting, tooth drawing, cauterization and the tonsorial operations. With the advancement of medicine, surgery and dentistry, the bedias became less and less capable of performing the triple functions of bedia-surgeon-dentist. In India and Bangladesh, bedias do operations include hair cutting, face and scalp massaging, nail trimming, pedicure, manicure.

Several health hazards including communicable diseases and skin conditions are associated with bedias' profession to which their visitors are exposed. The diseases of primary importance linked to this profession are ringworm disease, (through direct contact), infestation of head louse, staphylococcal, Scabies (through contaminated towels, combs, and aprons) and Hepatitis B, hepatitis C, tetanus and AIDS (contaminated blades and clips).

A large proportion of population is enjoying the services of bedias in our community and their place of work and profession may be a potential source of infectious diseases transmission silently in the community. Considering the grave consequences of infections especially Hepatitis B, C and AIDS, associated with this profession; awareness about these health hazards among bedias would play a vital part in prevention and control of these infections. The purpose of our study is to assess awareness among bedias regarding health hazards related to their profession and to identify practices linked with infection acquisition on their profession.

This scenario is commonly observed in India and Bangladesh. In this context, there is enough opportunity to do extensive research work in the community in both the country.

Raktim Das & Anwarul Karim Raju