Awareness on tuberculosis could greatly help in curing the disease, Handicrafts Development Corporation Chairman Shantheyanda Veena Achaiah said.
Speaking after inaugurating world TB day organised by the district administration, zilla panchayat, Department of health and family welfare and district TB control unit here on Monday, she said that in the past TB was considered as a dreadful disease.
DHO Dr O R Srirangappa said that 19 lakh people are diagnosed with TB in the country. The Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP) was initiated in Kodagu district from 2004.
Since 2004 till February, 2015, a total of 4,800 persons were treated. About 87 per cent of the patients have been cured, about five percent have lost their lives and five per cent have refused to continue the treatment. In 2014, 252 persons have been affected with TB and are being treated in the district.
Published 30 March 2015, 18:44 IST