INDORE: All districts except Burhanpur in Indore division lagged in notifying and detection new cases of tuberculosis in the first six months of this year leading to only 58.57% cumulative achievement against target.
The regional health director's office record suggested that only 14,555 new TB cases against a target of 24850 were identified in the division between January and July this year.
Burhanpur however achieved 97% of its target by notifying 1420 cases in the first six months this year. “Districts with more cases of Covid-19 during the second wave achieved less in other programmes including TB eradication”, said Dr Ashok Dagaria, regional director health services Indore division.
The second wave almost killed three months- April, May and June, for staff to work on other programmes affecting them badly. The districts however ran a one-month doorto-door survey during August in highrisk areas and population to identify new cases, said Dr Dagaria.“A two month long similar door-to-door survey is going on from September 2 to November 1 to achieve the annual target”, added Dr Dagaria. During these surveys, the grassroot workers visited those houses, areas, where any case of tuberculosis were reported in the last three years.All such areas were surveyed to find out new cases. The contacts of all currently positive tuberculosis including their family members and surrounding houses were surveyed to detect possible cases.
Indore DTO Dr Rahul Srivastava said, “In Aug, we have achieved more than 22% of target for the month with identification of around 600 new cases through door-to-door survey.”
“We are hopeful to achieve our target after the second such door-to-door survey ongoing from Sept 2 to Nov 1”, claimed Dr Srivastava.
