Dadu Majra gets city’s 4th TB treatment unit

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 24

Civil Dispensary, Dadu Majra, got the city’s 4th tuberculosis treatment unit here today. 

The chain of spreading TB has been broken in Chandigarh. It has been possible to control the spread of TB with planned and sustained efforts with the aim of early detection and early diagnosis, said Dr Rakesh K Kashyap, Director, Health Services, Chandigarh, while inaugurating the treatment unit at Civil Dispensary of Dadumajra on the occasion of World TB Day today. 

He said, “The patients will get free treatment of TB at the dispensary and will not have to go far to get their sputum examined or for taking medicines. In near future, the Government of India will introduce daily medicine regimen under DOTS instead of alternative day treatment.”

He said due to awareness about symptoms of TB, availability of diagnosis and free treatment, there has been a considerable decline in incidences of TB in Chandigarh. Having treated more than 37,600 TB patients, the health department has been able to control the spread of TB and was working hard to eliminate the disease from the City Beautiful.

The DHS congratulated the programme managers for securing first position amongst all the UTs of India in performance for TB control. He advised to concentrate on slum areas which have more number of TB patients and intensify the campaign to educate the people about early diagnosis and complete treatment which is available at their door-step.

State TB officer Dr Rajiv Khaneja appreciated the efforts of health providers who are the pillars of the RNTCP Programme. He added that now new techniques like the CBNAAT used for early detection of disease are available in Chandigarh.

An educative play was enacted by nursing students of PGI. Rotary Club also joined hands with the RNTCP for TB eradication by providing protein supplements to MDR-TB patients. The DHS honored the best workers and gave prizes to the students for painting competition organised in schools on tuberculosis.