CNN Central News & Network–ITDC India Epress / ITDC News Bhopal: A TB awareness programme was organised in Bhopal by the Department of Respiratory Diseases of Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Centre (ICMR-BMHRC), Bhopal, and the TB Eradication Core Committee. The main objective of the programme was to increase awareness about tuberculosis (TB) among institute employees, promote early diagnosis and treatment adherence, and provide information on various aspects of the National TB Elimination Programme.
The programme was attended by District TB Officer Ruby Khan, Assistant Professor Vishwas Gupta of the Department of Respiratory Diseases at Gandhi Medical College, and Neelam Dhawan, in-charge of the training division at the State TB Training and Demonstration Centre, Madhya Pradesh. The programme was chaired by BMHRC Acting Director Manisha Srivastava. Acting Medical Superintendent Anurag Yadav, Head of the Department of Respiratory Diseases Lalit Kumar, Professor Mahesh Rathore, and Assistant Professor Ankita Rai Chouksey were also present.
Senior doctors and health officers from various departments attended the event. Detailed discussions were held on current TB control strategies, screening methods, treatment systems, and the role of public participation.
Addressing the programme, District TB Officer Ruby Khan said drug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) is a major challenge at present. She said cases of MDR-TB can increase due to incomplete treatment, irregular intake of medicines, and failure to follow prescribed guidelines.
She said the National TB Elimination Programme is based on a systematic and scientific approach. Dr Khan stressed that public participation is extremely essential to achieve the target of TB elimination, and that along with the health department, other departments, local administration, panchayat representatives, and all sections of society have an important active role.
Khan said TB testing services have been decentralised under the TB elimination mission, making diagnostic facilities more accessible to people. She said modern molecular diagnostic technologies are enabling rapid and accurate testing.
She also said the treatment system has been strengthened under the National TB Elimination Programme, under which medicines are being provided free of cost to patients. Advanced and expensive medicines used in the treatment of drug-resistant TB are also being provided free by the government.
Khan said the medicines available under the National TB Elimination Programme are of world-class quality and are provided to patients free of cost.
Speaking on modern approaches in TB diagnosis and treatment, Vishwas Gupta, Assistant Professor in the Department of Respiratory Diseases at Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal, said TB is not limited to the lungs and can affect various organs of the body, due to which its symptoms can also vary.
He said proper screening of suspected patients, necessary investigations, and timely initiation of treatment are essential for early diagnosis. He added that regular follow-up during treatment, correct intake of medicines, and adherence to medical advice play an important role in disease control.
In her address, Neelam Dhawan, in-charge of the training division in Madhya Pradesh, explained the Nikshay Mitra Yojana. She said the scheme is an important initiative aimed at providing nutritional support and social assistance to TB patients.
She said that through this scheme, patients are registered on the Nikshay portal and provided the necessary nutritional support during the treatment period, which improves treatment adherence and speeds up recovery.
Addressing the need for clinical vigilance and early treatment in TB control, BMHRC Acting Director Manisha Srivastava said healthcare workers are also not untouched by the risk of TB infection. She said the National Reference Laboratory in the institute is playing an important role in TB diagnosis and control.
She said the institute has a digital X-ray facility and work is underway on a plan to extend testing services to the community level through handheld X-ray devices. She also mentioned that the DOTS Centre located at Health Centre No. 5 has been reactivated.
Srivastava said BMHRC has also participated in programmes related to adult TB vaccination and that continuous efforts are being made at the institute to further strengthen TB control and diagnosis.
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