Sowparnika KV
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Jun 15: The number of Tuberculosis (TB) cases in Dakshina Kannada districts remains at the same level compared to the previous years. The complete eradication of TB has become a challenge for the health department.
With the objective of completely eradicating TB in the country by 2025, the central and state governments are playing their part by conducting various programmes. A programme is lined up to trace the TB cases by identifying vulnerable populations once in every six months. Free check-up at health centres and also free treatment is given at the community health centres for TB.
District TB control officer Badruddin
TB is also seen in those who have recovered from Covid infection. Nearly 40% of the people are suffering from TB. Currently, as many as 1,082 active cases of TB are present in Dakshina Kannada district in which 80 are Multidrug-resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and 1000 are Genitourinary Tuberculosis (GSTB).
Nodal DR-TB Centre (NDR-TBCs) is established to manage all forms of Multidrug-resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) patients, including complicated cases with a treatment facility under one roof.
In 2021, as many as 2049 are notified from the public sector and 689 in the private sector, total notified from the public sector is 2206 and 758 in private sector in 2022 and till June in 2023, the total notified from public sector is 960 and from private sector is 303.
Seven hospitals are registered under STEPS (System for TB Elimination in Private Sector) programme introduced in October 2021 to provide treatment facilities for TB under one roof.
Tuberculosis Prevention Treatment (TPT) consists of a course of one or more anti-tuberculosis medicines given with the intention of preventing the development of TB disease.
District TB control officer Badruddin said, “Earlier, TB patients were isolated, but with the developments, they recover from the infection in a week. Before the patients are sent home, we will provide counselling and advise them to stay away from TB. Even the gram panchayat members are educated with the elimination of TB. Camps are being conducted to share the experience of TB champions.
“Immediate treatment should be taken by the patients if they come through any symptoms regarding TB (cough that lasts more than 3 weeks, you may cough up mucus (phlegm) or mucus with blood in it, feeling tired or exhausted, a high temperature or night sweats, loss of appetite, weight loss, feeling generally unwell,” he said.
As many as 700 patients were the beneficiaries of Nikshay Poshan Yojana (Nutritional Support to TB patients) through which Rs 500 and food kit will be collected from the donors to distribute to the TB patients.