Rope in NGOs for TB elimination campaign, DC tells officials

Our Correspondent

Chamba, December 21

Deputy Commissioner DC Rana has asked the officials concerned to intensify the Sunday Active Case Finding campaign for systematic screening of tuberculosis (TB) patients in Chamba district. He presided over a meeting of the district-level tuberculosis elimination committee here today.

For elimination of TB in the district, the NGOs should also be actively involved alongwith the AYUSH department and panchayati raj representatives while organising institutional activities, the DC said.

Reviewing necessary steps being taken by the Department of Health and Family Welfare in this direction, the DC asked the chief medical officer to organise target-based outreach programs in rural areas with the cooperation of all stakeholders.

Emphasising the need to make the Sunday Active Case Finding campaign more effective, the DC said targets should be set for the work to be done through health workers, anganwadi and ASHA workers. Along with GIS mapping of the infected cases, other information should also be recorded, the officials were told.

Rana informed that a general tuberculosis patient was given Rs 500 every month during the period of treatment for his nutrition. For multidrug-resistant (MDR) TB patient, this amount is Rs 1,500. Special incentives have also been provided to ASHA workers for patient identification and testing, he added.

He said the TB patient could also get his treatment done by any private registered medical practitioner (RMP). But the RMP would have to keep complete records of the patient and share his information with the Health Department. “If he does not, he is liable to face legal action”, the DC added.

District Tuberculosis Control Officer Dr Harit Puri informed that information related to tuberculosis could be obtained through tollfree helpline 1800116666 and 01899-292638.