MAKING THEM AWARE: IMA secretary Padmapratap addressing the gathering in Hassan on Saturday on the occasion of World Tuberculosis Day. Doctors Nagaraja Rao and Prem Kumar look on.

BELLARY: World Tuberculosis (TB) Day was observed here on Saturday with a slogan "TB anywhere is TB everywhere" to create awareness on the disease.

C.M. Shirol, Chief Executive Officer of the zilla panchayat, flagged off the

procession, taken out in the city as part of the awareness programme. Staff and health workers participated.

In Bellary district, an estimated 4,466 people are suspected to be suffering from TB. The TB Control board has plans to test at least 70 per cent of them and provide treatment. In 2005-06, the sputum of 15,680 persons was tested, of which 2,652 tested positive, according to Nizamuddin, District TB Control Officer.

DOTS centres

Early detection and treatment of TB would prevent the spread of the disease. Direct Observation Treatment Shortcourse (DOTS) centres had been opened in government and private hospitals and also by non-governmental organisations.

People with cough persisting for over three weeks, chest pain and weight loss should go in for a medical check-up at the DOTS centre. Once the disease was confirmed, medicines would also be given to the patients' family members as a precautionary measure, he said. He has appealed to people to extend their cooperation for prevention and control of TB.

Hassan Staff Correspondent writes:

The zilla panchayat, jointly with District TB centre and District Health Office, observed the World Tuberculosis Day at IMA Hall in Hassan.

IMA Secretary Padmapratap, who addressed the gathering, said every year 60 lakh to 80 lakh new TB cases were detected around the world. And every year, 30 lakh people died due to TB. As many as 95 per cent of the TB cases were reported from developing countries, including India.

District surgeon Prem Kumar said that in India, 160 lakh people were suffering from tuberculosis and every year three lakh people died owing to this. By DOTS method, TB could be cured, he said.

District Health Officer Nagaraja Rao said during 2006, 1,683 cases of tuberculosis reported in Hassan district.

Among them, 1,661 continued treatment while 238 discontinued treatment, he said.

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