Prepare action plan for tuberculosis eradication: DC

Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim stressed on the need to chalk out an action plan for Tuberculosis (TB) eradication in the district.

Speaking after inaugurating World Tuberculosis Day programme organised at Town Hall here, he said India has 20 per cent of TB patients in the world are in India.

Along with government hospitals, all medical institutions should join together to eradicate TB, he observed.

District Health Officer Ramakrishna Rao said all other organs, except hair and nails, will be affected by TB and more than 1,000 people die due to the disease in India (every year). 

He said free test is done and treatment is provided to TB patients at DOTS centres. In 2015, 1,595 patients were given treatment in the district for TB he added.

A 10-bed DRTB centre has been set up at the District Wenlock Hospital to provide treatment to Multidrug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR TB) patients.

A TB treatment unit has been set up in each taluk under National Tuberculosis Control Programme. Phlegm test is done at primary health centres to TB diagnosis at the initial level. A C B Nat site has been started in the Wenlock Hospital for the detection of tuberculosis.

Dr V N Holla of KVG medical College, who was the chief guest, said the parents have to ensure that BCG, hepatitis and oral polio vaccines are administered to the children soon after birth. In some hospitals, BCG is given after two months of child birth, which is not a good practice, as it increases the risks by 30 per cent, he said.

Spandana Trust Administrative Officer Sr Evangeline was felicitated on the occasion. District Surgeon Dr H R Rajeshwaridevi, District TB Control Officer Dr Badruddin M N, Lady Goschen Hospital Superintendent Dr Savitha and IMA President Dr Amrutha Bhandary were present.

The district administration and the Department of Health and Family Welfare had organised the programme.