The Hindu : New Delhi News : Children ‘edutained' on TB

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Monday, Feb 07, 2011
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New Delhi

Children ‘edutained' on TB

Staff Reporter

Games CDs based on KBC and cricket being distributed in Delhi schools

NEW DELHI: To educate students about tuberculosis, entertaining awareness games based on the model of popular television serial Kaun Banega Crorepati and cricket are now being freely distributed in many schools of the Capital.

These interactive games endorsed by Government's Revised National TB Control Programme are being distributed in both public and government schools in Delhi, Kolkata and Hyderabad. The programme has been initiated even in some MCD schools. Compact discs have also been given to State TB Control Office of Delhi for distribution across its network. A specialised website has been dedicated to access and promote these games.

A total of 2,000 CDs have been distributed and more than 7.5 lakh games have been downloaded.

“About 20,000 children have benefited through computer and web-based games,” said Hilmi Quraishi, director of Social Initiatives of ZMQ who developed the TB games.

“There was a need felt for something which could be both educative and entertaining; only lectures were seen to be non-stimulating,” said Sachdeva Public School director Sanjay Sachdeva.

“Edutainment is the best way to keep children engaged. It has been observed that learning while playing has been extremely effective. This subtle way of learning increases the learning index in children,” he added.

Non-government organisation Optimum Resource Development Agency's programme co-ordinator Rishipal Lohia said: “About 100 students from Delhi Nagar Nigam Prathmik Vidyalayas can access these games from their library. The cricket matches are becoming very popular with both boys and girls. At the end of the day, whatever they learn about TB, they don't forget to share among their friends and family members.”

Currently there are plans for rolling out the games in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Bihar through the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan programme and they will also be translated in Telugu, Kannada and Marathi.

Speaking on the importance of raising awareness about TB among the youth community, B. L. Kapur Hospital's Respiratory Medicine associate consultant Dr. Vipin Kauts said: “Awareness about TB is especially crucial for the youth as they are more vulnerable to the disease. They have weak immune system and an increased susceptibility to symptoms like pneumonia, which may lead to serious impairments if left untreated or misdiagnosed.”

Tuberculosis is one of the leading causes of mortality in India and accounts for 1/5th of the global incidence. In India, every year, 1.9 million new cases of TB occur and 0.8 million are infectious new smear positive pulmonary TB cases.

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