The Hindu : New Delhi News : MCD to focus on anti-TB drive

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New Delhi

MCD to focus on anti-TB drive

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: Marking the World TB Day on March 24, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi is planning to launch an extensive awareness programme about the prevalence, prevention and treatment of tuberculosis.

According to Delhi Mayor Arti Mehra, the civic body will propound the WHO slogan, “I am Stopping TB”, and organise a function near the Red Fort to highlight the objectives of the programme.

“The event will be followed by a public rally and ‘Chetna Raths’ will go through Chandni Chowk to spread the good word. We expect a large number of participants from the public for the event,” she said.

The Mayor said the programme was being observed in collaboration with the Union Government, the Delhi Government, New Delhi Municipal Council, the Tuberculosis Association of India and the New Delhi TB Association.

“Early diagnosis and regular treatment is the key to battle this disease. The civic body is fighting TB primarily through supervised treatment known as “DOTS” -- Directly Observed Therapy Short course. The success rate of DOTS in Delhi is 80 per cent to 90 per cent ,” she added.

One lakh patients

The civic body’s Health Committee Chairman V. K. Monga said latest estimates had revealed that there are over one lakh Tuberculosis patients in Delhi alone of whom around 40,000 are sputum-positive and hence infective to others.

“There is an urgent need for creating public awareness about tuberculosis. India accounts for nearly a third of the global TB patients. The disease kills more people than HIV, malaria, leprosy and tropical diseases combined ,” Dr. Monga added.

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