Tuberculosis still high in Tea Estates, minority areas of Assam

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: While the number of tuberculosis (TE) cases is declining in the State, there are still challenges to be overcome as incidence of the disease remains high in the tea garden and minority-dominated areas.

This view was shared by Dr Avijit Basu, Joint Director (TB)-cum-State TB Officer, Department of Health Services, Assam, while attending a media roundtable discussion titled 'Winning the Battle Against TB: Adopting a Community-Based Approach to Behaviour Change' here on Wednesday.

Dr Basu said that while the World Health Organization (WHO) has set a target of eliminating TB globally by 2030, India has set a target of eliminating the disease by 2025. According to a WHO report, India bears around a quarter of the world TB burden, with TB killing close to half-a-million people each year in the country.

He said that in line with the Central Government's announcement, the State Government also announced the commendable goal of reducing the TB infection rate from 217 per lakh population in 2015 to 44 per lakh population by 2025 under the ongoing National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP).

However, Dr Basu said it is a challenge to achieve this target due to the high rate of TB infection in tea garden and densely-populated minority-dominated areas. While the dearth of proper health care facilities in both cases is the main reason for high rate of TB infection, the high population in minority areas is also a contributory factor, he said.

At present, the State is equipped to test only 400 people per lakh population and the desired result will not be achieved unless the testing facility is boosted to test 1,500 persons per lakh population, Dr Basu said.

He said that in his personal opinion, it will be a positive achievement even if the TB infection rate in the State can be brought down to 55-60 people per lakh population, as against the target of 44 people per lakh population.

He mentioned that the Government is currently providing financial assistance of Rs 500 per month to each identified TB patient. However, he said, "TB impacts everyone, not only those affected by the condition and the urgent need for action cannot be sufficiently underscored. We require a united voice in this march towards TB elimination. Corporates, the Government and, most importantly, the media need to come together in this. The Government of India's Ministry of health & family Welfare launched a special drive to provide additional support to the TB patients by asking cooperatives, corporates, NGOs and individuals to adopt TB patients for nutritional support, diagnostic support, vocational training etc."

Today's programme was organized by the State TB Cell, Assam and Karnataka Health Promotion Trust (LHPT).

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