"Health is Wealth", the age-old adage, stresses the importance of health. Health care is vital for a community. Health care may be defined as the prevention, treatment, and management of illness and the preservation of mental and physical well-being through the services offered by the medical and allied health professions.

The Government Hospital established at Azhagappapuram in the early 1950's has been the main health care center for the people of the village. It was mainly through the efforts of the then Azhagai Parish priest, Rev. Fr. Novamani, that the Government Hospital was set up in the village. The existing hospital building was built around forty years ago. The Government Veterinary Hospital also came into being with an exclusive structure for it alongside the main hospital. In recent times, more wards and structures have been added to the original building of the hospital. Before having its own building, the Government Hospital had been located on rented premises at various locations in the village.

When Azhagappapuram did not have a hospital at all - Government or private - the people of the village had to rely on hospitals at places like Kottaram, Mylaudy, Nagercoil.

It is important that the government Hospital is expanded and upgraded to a full-fledged health care center, considering the increase in population. The sick then can avail of the medical care and facilities. Medical services provided at present by the Government Hospital are inadequate. To bring about improvement, first and foremost, people must make it a habit to go to the Governmental Hospital. Many people think that it is below their prestige to visit the Government Hospital for medical treatment. This attitude must change.

People should not proceed with the premise that the Government Hospitals are bad. It may be noted that the Government Hospital is set up for the benefit of all the people, irrespective of economic backgrounds. If people visit the Government Hospital instead of private clinics, the government doctors and other medical staff will be alert and render the kind of services comparable to those available at private hospitals. If people are dissatisfied with the services, they are at liberty to complain in writing to the District Medical Officer, who should be more than pleased to initiate corrective actions. When this exercise is repeated, standards are bound to improve with the doctors and staff taking their jobs seriously.

If water is drawn regularly from a well by many, the quality of supply will be good and long lasting. If water is not drawn, it will get stagnated, dirty and the well will become disused. Therefore, it is the duty of the people to make the Government Hospital work to their satisfaction by using it whenever they have to. Government hospitals are not some sort of untouchables.

Private medical clinics have not really made a great impact here in this village. However, there have always been one or two such clinics, which have served the needy to the best of their abilities.

The clinic founded by Fr. Selva Geoerge on the premises of the church a few years ago, under the auspices of St. Vincent Paul Sabah, has been providing medical service to persons with minor illnesses. Because of its convenient location and timings, it has been beneficial to the people. Serious cases are referred to bigger hospitals for better and timely treatment.

The people of Azhagai mainly rely on better and bigger hospitals situated in Nagercoil for their health care requirements. Some people go to a couple of private hospitals in Anjugramam for medical treatments. When a large number of people start using the local Government Hospital, the need to go elsewhere for medical treatments will diminish.

Preventive medication has been in existence in the village for decades. People do benefit immensely from this service.

Sanitation and hygiene at Azhagai must be tightened up. Activities in this area are clearly below the required levels. The authorities concerned should take appropriate measures to maintain high standards consistently in this area to prevent the possible outbreak of contagious and other diseases.

Translated from Tamil by J.Vensuslaus