TB awareness van flagged off

 Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, September 25   

The awareness van of the Health and Welfare Department on tuberculosis was flagged off from the office of the Civil Surgeon Dr  Raghubir Singh Bains and Dr Shamsher Singh Mann, Assistant Civil Surgeon. 

Dr Gumreet Kaur Duggal, District Family Welfare Officer, Dr Kamalpal  Sidhu, Assistant Health Officer and Dr Ragu Sabbharwal, District TB Control Officer, were also present on the occasion.  

Addressing the gathering, Dr Shamsher Singh Mann said by initiating health awareness among the people, outbreak of diseases can be prevented. 

He said TB was spreading quickly and children were falling prey to the disease. With timely intervention and treatment, one could ward off the disease, he said.  

He said timely treatment can help cure the infection. As per the RNTCP programme, by adopting the DOTS procedure, the disease can be controlled. Patients who give up the treatment midway, are treated as per the MDRL procedure, the doctors said. 

Dr Mann said investigation and treatment is done free of cost at government health centres. All treatment of TB and multi-drug resistant TB is free at government centres.  

District TB Control Officer Raghu Sabbharwal said the awareness van will visit various banks in the city. It will also visit Nakodar and Phillaur. On September 26, it will cover the urban areas of the city and then head for the next destination. 

Mass Media Officer Purshottam Lal, Deputy Mass Media Officer Parminder Kaur  and the health department’s medical and para-medical teams were also present on the occasion.