Over two lakh people in Tiruchi district have been screened for tuberculosis (TB) and 810 diagnosed in the latest phase of the 100-day campaign to raise awareness and detection of the disease, authorities have said.
The drive, inaugurated on December 7, 2024 in keeping with the ‘Ni-kshay Shivir’ nationwide initiative, is being conducted by the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine. It targets 347 districts throughout India as part of the ‘TB-Mukt Bharat’ programme to end tuberculosis and is scheduled to end on March 17.
“Till February 24, we screened 2,00,855 people. Of these, samples were taken from 30,204 people and 810 cases have been diagnosed,” Deputy Director Medical Services – TB S. Savithri, told The Hindu. She said that 3,64,092 persons vulnerable to the disease in the district were mapped for the campaign.
As per figures shared by the official, at least 10,680 persons took the microscopy test, and 10,309 people underwent the nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT). Chest X-rays were conducted on 5,035 persons. The authorities have secured nutritional support for 486 beneficiaries during the campaign.
Awareness and sensistisation activities were conducted at the Post Office, railway stations, and the local chapter of the Indian Medical Association.
“We have so far targeted workers in small industries, washermen, and those employed in the markets for testing. Members of the public should voluntarily undergo testing if they are experiencing TB symptoms such as cough, fever, weight loss, night sweats, chest pain, recent dyspnea (shortness of breath) in the last six months, fatigue or any contact history with TB patients,” said Dr. Savithri.
Published – February 28, 2025 05:19 pm IST
