TB in India
By: Chakarapani Srinivasa
TB in India
When environment is neglected the lungs of the residents in that area get affected badly. In India environmental hazards have grown in a monstrous manner that in the name of modernization and infrastructure building, many trees are felled to spoil the atmosphere adversely. Recently several thousands of trees are cut down in New Delhi which the NGOs protested vehemently. The rise in TB patients is shocking in India. From 30% it has risen to 90%. The health care officials and politicians have brought out National Tuberculosis Control Program which monitors and checks the spread of TB. As it is contagious, patients suffering from TB are to be isolated and the towels, dresses& vessels they use are to be cleaned well. In hospitals much care is to be taken. In TamilNadu at Tambaram, we have TB Sanatorium where research works are done extensively.
There are around 130 TB units and 630 microscopy centers in TamilNadu to set right the problem. So the directly observed treatment and short course therapy in India has played a good role to cure TB attacks.
The health care statisticians in New Delhi say that 1lakh people fall prey to TB. Most of them spread it to others and cause calamity to the health environment.
In villages campaigns is done by social service people to educate the masses about the causes for spread of TB. In all shops a printed poster is placed cautioning the people, youth about the evil of TB and the ways to prevent it.
The health specialists have warned the nation that 9000 die everyday in India due to TB. They also warn that it is the merciless killer of people who are HIV positive. It is alarming and disheartening to note that 0.6 million people are attacked and breathe their last due to TB every year in
India. Around 2.3 million new cases are seen every year including 1.2 million positive. It is also saddening to observe that 3.6 million are positive in India.
In India mostly young women die due to TB. It is expected that 1.1million women may be attacked by this in a year. The Indian children are suffering from malnutrition and more in an unhygienic atmosphere esp. in metro cities like Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Orissa, Gujarat, and Bangalore. Hence 1million are expected to be attacked every year.
TB infection in India is so vigorous that they resist any powerful drugs also. Hence medical practitioners warn that all precautions to be taken to prevent the occurrence. Basic education on good environment is a must. So the govt. of India has strictly issued orders that environment subject should be brought in school level itself. Tamil Nadu govt. has failed to include a subject in the school syllabus and the chief secretary was asked to face Supreme Court charges. The attack of TB is dangerous and expensive to get remedies. Hence the downtrodden and economically backward classes simply die unable to bear the expenses. Another point the Indian doctors proclaim is that the TB patients do not follow the treatment schedule properly and fall a prey to an uncontrollable condition.
The slums in North Chennai, along the Cooum River, the most polluted river in India register many cases in TB. Also in Surat, Ahmadabad, Coimbatore textile area, Ariyalur cement factory area, Tirrupur dyeing factory surrounding area, slums in Santa Cruz in Mumbai, labour areas in Orissa, fish markets in Kerala, thermal power stations in TamilNadu register many cases of TB. As it is a micro bacterial droplet infection and hence lower class people inhale it easily and succumb to the consequences. Busy
congested streets of Mumbai not only cause heavy traffic jam but also cause TB attack everyday. The exhaust of many vehicles pollute the entire area even in Karnataka, Chennai, Ahmadabad, Kanpur and many parts of U.P.
The Indian govt has spent several crores of rupees to eradicate but many still die due to it every day.
S.CHAKARAPANI
AGE:56
OCCUPATION:FREELANCE JOURNALIST
ADDRESS:Chakarapani.s@nlcindia.com
62 type 4 qtrs block 13,neyveli 607803 india