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The World Health Organisation (WHO), along with the European Respiratory Society (ERS), Thursday presented a new framework to eliminate tuberculosis (TB) in countries with low levels of the disease. There are 33 countries and territories where there are fewer than 100 TB cases per million population. Low TB-burden countries already have the means to drive down TB cases dramatically by 2035. (Read: IGRA, the new tuberculosis diagnostic tool pros and cons)
'Universal health coverage, which ensures everyone has access to the health services they need without suffering financial hardship as a result, is the bedrock. The key is to target smart TB interventions towards the people who need them most,' said WHO's assistant director-general Hiroki Nakatani. The framework outlines an initial 'pre-elimination' phase, aiming to have fewer than 10 new TB cases per million people per year by 2035 in these countries. (Read: How India's faring in the battle against TB)
The goal is to then achieve full elimination of TB by 2050, defined as less than one case per million people per year. 'Although TB is preventable and curable, in these 33 settings, 155,000 people still fall ill each year and 10,000 die. Millions are infected and at risk of falling ill,' the WHO statement said. According to professor G.B. Migliori from ERS, 'powerful antibiotics and better living standards have almost pushed the disease out of many high-income countries. But we still have not succeeded'.'But if we get it right, and recommit to fighting the disease, both at home and abroad, TB will eventually no longer be a public health threat,' he added. (Read: Drug-resistant TB on the rise in India)
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How you can prevent tuberculosis?
TB is an air-borne disease which affects people whose immunity is compromised. eg: Infants, old people, pregnant women, women who have recently delivered, people living in unsanitary conditions, uncontrolled diabetes patients, cancer patients, HIV positive people. Also, if you are in close contact (living together/working together) with people suffering from TB, you have more risk of developing TB. Alcoholics, people using illegal drugs and narcotics and people who weigh 10% lower than the recommended body weight are also predisposed to develop TB.
Avoid close contact with people affected with TB. If you cannot avoid contact with them, wear protective masks and gloves.If you work at a hospital, wear good-quality microfilteration masks. Wash your hands with a disinfectant cleanser after contact with the patient.
Avoid crowded, stuffy and unhygienic places.
Work on improving your immunity by including diet rich in antioxidants. Have atleast 4-5 servings of fresh vegetables and fruits everyday. If you cannot have it due to certain practical constraints, make sure you take your daily dose of antioxidants/multivitamins after consulting your doctor. Anti-oxidants help fight free radicals produced in the body due to any kind of disease/stress and help in cell repair.
Include atleast 2 good servings of protein in your daily diet. They are the building blocks of all our cells and help in cell repair too.
Do not go on a low-carb diet. You require a good mix of all the elements of food to be healthy. Carbs, protiens, vitamins and fats all have their place in maintaining your immune system. Read more about How you can prevent tuberculosis
With inputs from IANS
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