From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Mar 24: In a new and alarming finding, Health and Medical Education Minister Dr K Sudhakar on Thursday, March 24 said that many people who had recovered from Covid have been detected with Tuberculosis (TB).
Participating in the World Tuberculosis Day organised by the State Health and Family Welfare Department at Arogya Soudha, the minister said the State Government has ordered a comprehensive study on the issue.
Dr Sudhakar said 144 persons out of the 25 lakh people who were tested are found to be infected with TB for the first time.
“TB is also a pandemic just like Covid 19. While Covid is caused by virus, TB is caused by bacteria,” he said and declared that the State Government was seriously implementing the target of making Karnataka free from TB.
The minister said the World Health Organisation (WHO) has set a target of making the world free of TB by 2030. But Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set a target of making India free of TB by 2025 itself. “This objective and goal cannot be achieved merely by doctors or the government. It requires a mass movement,’’ he said.
He explained that treatment is normally started after detecting TB in individuals. However, it is necessary to start treatment soon after detecting the symptoms.
“If a person has symptoms such as continuous cough, fever in the evenings and weight loss, it is necessary to compulsorily get tested. All government hospitals in the State are equipped with testing facilities and people must avail of the opportunity to get themselves tested. If the tests done early, it is easier to get treatment and recovery is faster,’’ Dr Sudhakar explained.
He lamented that the people in the rural areas normally do not get treatment even after developing TB. A TB infected person, may spread the disease to at least 10 persons and the problem spreads to all. It is necessary to create awareness about TB, he said pointing out that the government is spending more than Rs 5 crore for creating public awareness about diseases.
The minister decried the tendency of people to isolate the TB infected patients and the situation becomes a virtual war against the TB patient, which is very dangerous. He emphasised the need to build confidence among the TB patients.
The National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) has offered testing and consultations to 25 lakh people. A similar drive for offering consultation and advice to the TB patient and their families is also necessary.
Steps to ensure that the infection does not spread to others, especially close members of the family are very essential, he said underscoring the need to create awareness among family members to ensure that the disease does not spread to others is very much needed.
The minister said five out of the 30 districts in the State have won the silver medal for their TB control measures while nine districts received bronze medals. The achievement of these 14 districts is very commendable, he said pointing out that the incidence of TB has come down by 40% this year as compared to last year.
Sustained and intensive efforts for TB control is necessary in the entire State to ensure that all the districts receive gold medals, he added.