The people must encourage patients suffering from tuberculosis to get treatment offered by government in general hospitals. He was speaking at the one-day awareness programme on eradication of tuberculosis held at Srikantha Educational Institution in Hassan on Friday.

He lauded the role of the non -governmental organisations in putting an end to tuberculosis by creating awareness among the people. Prolonged cough for two weeks, fever that increases during evening, chest pain, loss of weight and appetite are the symptoms of tuberculosis. Patients suffering from these symptoms must undergo phlegm test.

The District Tuberculosis Control Society has arranged such tests in the government hospitals of Hassan, Dudda, Holenarasipur, Hallimysore, Arakalgud, Konanur, Ballupet, Sakleshpur, Alur, Channarayapatna, Nuggehalli, Belur, Arehalli, Arsikere and Banavara.

Medicines and tablets would be distributed through Asha and anganawadi activists to the identified patients at their villages, he said.