The Hindu 26.08.2014
“Local bodies must play a role in TB eradication”
familiarity matters:Joint Director of Health Services M. Ravikala
addressing an awareness programme on tuberculosis control measures for
Corporation councillors in Dindigul on Monday.— PHOTO: G. KARTHIKEYAN
Role of local bodies was vital in identifying
tuberculosis (TB) cases and referring them to government hospitals, said
Joint Director of Health Services M. Ravikala.
Addressing
an awareness programme on TB control measures for Dindigul Corporation
councillors in 48 wards here on Monday, she said councillors had
one-to-one contact with residents of their wards. They could easily
identify persons with TB symptoms. The councillors should convince such
cases to go to hospital for test.
It would be helpful
in identifying TB cases. Early detection would reduce curing period
also. The field staff could reach people to certain extent only. Many
patients did not complete the six-month course of medicine, she added.
Deputy
Director of Health Services S. Mangayarkarasi said TB was the fifth
disease in the world to kill most number of people. Of the nine million
people affected by TB, only six million cases were detected. Only when
the undetected cases were identified and brought to hospital for
treatment, TB could be eradicated. Moreover, two million new cases were
being detected every year. In Dindigul alone more than 3,000 cases were
being detected every year. The detection rate was just 68 per cent in
the country. Failure in detecting the case would have a serious impact
in the society because one patient will spread the disease to at least
to 10 persons, she cautioned.
“Now, we have
medicines, doctors and excellent medical system to save people from the
disease. But the curing rate was only 25 per cent 25 years ago. Now, it
is 86 per cent. TB patients are prone to HIV and diabetes. Delay in
detection will lead to multi-drug resistant tuberculosis which is very
difficult to treat. Private hospitals must send patients with TB
symptoms to government hospitals,” she said.
Mayor V. Marudha Raj assured to extend all support to the health department in eradicating the disease.