Awareness rally on World TB Day

Nizamabad: District Collector Christina Z Chongthu called upon the people to support the government's efforts for eradication of Tuberculosis.A She was speaking at an awareness rally conducted to mark World Tuberculosis Day here on Sunday. Health Officials and several health workers, holding placards with informative messages about the disease, took part in the rally. A "Tuberculosis is controllable and treatable. The treatment is provided to the patients free of cost by the government which is implementing the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme across the Country. Directly Observed Short Course Treatment recommended by World Health Organisation (WHO) is being applied for TB control under the prgoramme,'' the Collector stated. She urged the people to improve their knowledge about the disease and help the government to control its spread. "If anyone has symptoms like persistent cough for two weeks or more, blood in sputum, unexplained weight loss and lack of appetite, he or she should immediately approach the doctors and undergo tests. The people should not neglect these symptoms and they can go to any government hospital, where a special TB unit is available, for examination and treatment," she explained. Christina Z Chongthu stressed on the early diagnosis of the disease to ensure complete recovery of the patient. The rally passed through main thoroughfares in the town before culminating in a meeting at Rajiv Gandhi Auditorium. Addressing the meeting, the Collector appreciated health staff for their work in identifying TB patients and providing treatment to them. In-charge DHMO Vijay Kumar and others were present. Adilabad: District Medical and Health Officer (DH & MO) Dr Manikya Rao said Tuberculosis is one of the major health problems being faced by the Country and the disease is claiming one life per minute. He was addressing a meeting held on the premises of DHMO Office here on Sunday to mark World Tuberculosis Day. Manikya Rao stated that lack of awareness among the people and delay in diagnosing the disease were main causes for most of the TB related deaths. The district administration set up 6 TB units and 36 Microscopic Centres for providing treatment and TB diagnosis across the district. He urged the people to know more about the disease and approach Government Hospitals, where treatment is provided free of cost to TB patients.