Editorial Team
... Read More
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookie Policy.
Written By: Editorial Team | Updated : August 6, 2013 11:40 AM IST
Communicable diseases like tuberculosis a very troublesome for densely populated cities like Mumbai where there's ample scope for pathogen to spread from person to person. After Mayor Sunil Prabhu directed the BMC health department to chalk out a comprehensive plan to fight the disease, the department has come up with a grand plan to keep the disease at bay which includes members from WHO, National Tuberculosis Institute (NTI), Central TB Division (CTB), Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and others including NGOs and private practitioners.
'The BMC started its anti-TB campaign last year after the news of the 'totally' drug resistant strain of the virus was observed. The new blueprint is a more comprehensive and ambitious plan wherein we aim to have universal access to quality TB care in Mumbai. The civic body has invited over 4,000 qualified medical practitioners to be part of its anti-TB programme,' said Additional Municipal Commissioner Mhaiskar.
Read: Drug-resistant TB - why you should be worried
The BMC is involving more GeneXperts a state-of-the-art molecular diagnostic system which can identify TB in a few hours and also the state run JJ Hospital is expected to have a drug susceptibility test with a team from the hospital being trained by the NTI.
The TB scare became more pronounced last year when it emerged that 12 people were suffering from an extremely drug resistant form of TB which was resistant to the first line and second line of TB treatment. Since then, the Centre made TB a notifiable disease meaning that even private hospitals would have to report the disease to authorities. The problem is non-compliance from the private sector which can lead to more dangerous outbreaks. It's believed that this along with wrong treatment plans or aborted ones is leading to the formation of the drug-resistant variety.
Read: DOTS - the sure-shot way to end TB
'The Government of India is devising ways to eliminate non-compliance from private practitioners. So far the communication about notification of TB cases from private sector to the government is only paper-based. There are ways, which are being considered to streamline this. We need to adapt the information technology to overcome this,' said Dr Srinivas Nair, national TB officer for India from WHO.
Another problem area is that the practitioners and medical staff treating TB patients tend to contract the disease. 'In order to deal with the issue of infection contraction by staff at hospitals, we have constantly been sensitising the staff members at hospitals. A committee also has been appointed for this issue. The BMC has been providing nutritional support to all medical staff dealing with TB patients, as a strong immune system is the best barrier against infection,' said Arun Bamne. executive health officer, BMC.
Read: Ten facts you didn't know about TB
