The hard work done by the TB (Tuberculosis) cell of the State Health Department finally pays off as more number of patients are coming forward for the detection and medication in the Government-run establishments in the Garhwal and Kumaon division of the State.
Department officials told Dehradun, Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar and Nainital districts of the State are among the worst-affected in terms of TB cases with maximum number of sputum positive cases has been reported from the Haridwar district of the State. Even after establishing 13 DTC (District TB Clinic Centre) and 30 TB units in all 13 districts of the State, new patients are termed reluctant visiting Government hospitals for treatment. Despite the fact the life saving drugs have been administered free of cost to patients, the department has failed to achieve 100 per cent cure rate in the State.
After realising the fact that the villagers are reluctant consulting medical officers and also fail to complete full treatment course, the State Health Department has been sensitising villagers, who are living in the fringe and hilly terrains of the State. In order to achieve the target, the department has joined hands with NGOs and social groups for curtailing TB cases in the State.
Under RNTCP (Revised National TB Control Programme), patients diagnosed with TB or sputum positive cases have been given free DOTS or DOTS plus to completely curb the disease. The latest figures compiled by the State health department clearly highlighted that 14,883 patients were detected suffering from TB and out of that, 5,430 were sputum positive cases in 2011 whereas 15,239 cases were detected in the last year and 5,558 were sputum positive cases.
Officials lamented that villagers are not coming forward for detection of the disease considering the social stigma thus awareness is among the most potent tool with the department for curbing TB cases in the State. Medicos blamed migration of population would be among the main reason for the detection of maximum number of TB cases in the Haridwar, Dehradun, Udham Singh Nagar and Nainital districts of the State. While highlighting the future plans, State TB Officer, Dr RP Badoni said that Government accredited health workers, NGOs, individuals and private organisations have become a part of RNTCP to achieve the target.
“DOT centres are already established across the State to curtail TB cases in the State,” he said, adding that State of art laboratory is already providing testing and culture facilities. Although cure rate hovers around 85 per cent, the department has been focusing to increase the detection rate in the Garhwal and Kumaon division of the State.