The present study was carried out among the elderly tribal people in Gunduri Village of Lanjigarh block, Kalahandi District,Odisha.The objective of the study was to understand the healthcare seeking behaviour of elderly population among the tribals. The study evident large dependency of ethno- medicines and traditional healthcare practices among the tribal elderly people. During the fieldwork collected some medicinal plants used by the elderly and also healers. Of those plants (leaves/roots)are used to treat various diseases like:(stomach pain,Fever,Headache,joint pain etc.) The study also revealed that many of the elderly people are self-healer. They use ethno-medicine to cure themselves to following the principles and wisdom taught by their ancestors. The reason being their beliefs is very strong towards the natural resources. And also medicinal plants are easily available and accessible in tribal areas. As long as if they have some health issues some elderly are doing their own healing who have some knowledge of ethno-medicine and those who do not know these sciences go directly to the healers staying in the village and also going to nearby village.The common health issues of elderly in that areas are: Malaria, TB, Kidney failure , paralysis, headache and because of aging there joints pain and have some other disorders. There is one government AYUSH health service in the village which is running well, and also a government health and wellness centre which has few medicines but the centre not properly working . A government ambulance goes from the nearby town of Bhawanipatna to deliver some medicines and other supplies. Apart from that, there is no network for communication or any other means of transportation in the village so that they can go to the medical centre in case of emergency .If you ever get the network, the ambulance will also reach you if contacted.
