Give nutritious powder to TB patients, Karnataka health dept tells officials

Bengaluru: The Health Department on Saturday ordered District Tuberculosis Officers to distribute nutritious powder to TB patients, whose Body Mass Index (BMI) is under 18, two months after commencement of treatment.

The department has allowed distribution of up to 6 kg of powder, which is to be registered with the respective TTB registrar of that district. It is mandatory to register output and input of the powder. 

Community health workers and Asha workers are instructed to make sure patients consume the powder every day without fail. Officials and workers have been instructed to raise awareness about benefits of the powder, besides informing them about the quantity to consume each day. 

All patients are eligible, regardless of their economic condition.