Nellore: With the spurt in the number of tuberculosis cases in the region partly due to negligence on the part of public in taking treatment in time, the state TB control wing has started offering free medical aid and monetary support to patients to contain its spread. An NGO, World Vision India, offered five goats each to families of five TB and HIV patients through Joint Collector A. MD. Imtiaz on Friday on the occasion of World TB Day on Saturday. Some NGO’s support income generating activities for the families of TB and HIV patients. Project officer of the NGO Joshi Babu said they have been creating livelihood opportunities for families of poor TB and HIV patients as they cannot go out for work for long duration.
While appreciating the initiative, the joint collector appealed to patients diagnosed with TB to make use of government schemes for treatment and improve their health. As many as 3,500 cases have been detected during 2017 in the 16 TB units and 34 designated microscopic centres in SPSR Nellore district.
Officials concerned believe that the figure could be 50 per cent more as many people go to private hospitals for treatment and expressed concern over the spread of the disease. Those with symptoms such as fever, cough, loss of weight and loss of appetite for more than two weeks are being advised to undergo tests for TB which is an airborne disease.
Dr G. Venkata Prasad, District TB Control Officer, said, "People get infected by inhaling TB bacillus (Mycobacterium tuberculosis). This is called droplet infection and means that the bacteria gets transmitted from one person to another through air between them." He said that the sputum collected from suspected patients is being examined through CBNAAT (Cartridge Based Nucleic Acid Amplification Test) at the AC Subba Reddy General Hospital in Nellore. Another analytical centre would be set up at the Area Hospital at Gudur soon.
CBNAAT is a rapid diagnostic instrument for detecting TB. It can also poiunt out if the TB bacteria is resistant to drugs (RIFAMICIN) or not. "We are going to do Universal DST (drug susceptibility testing) or drug resistance test in all cases including previously treated ones to find out which TB drugs a person is sensitive to, and if they have drug resistant TB" Dr Prasad said.
He added that people with diabetes are more susceptible for TB. According to Dr Prasad, the government has been transferring Rs 500 directly to the account of TB patients every month for six or eight months depending on the period of treatment apart from providing medicines free of cost. In case of Multi Drug Resistant (MDR) TB cases, they have been offering treatment worth Rs 2 lakh for two years.
