Delhi Health Minister Dr. A.K. Walia has stated that to ensure effective control over the incidence of Tuberculosis in the city, Delhi Government is starting Directly Observed Treatment Short Course (DOTS) services in night shelters run by Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board. It is being initially started in 25 night shelters and it will be gradually expanded throughout Delhi.
Dr. Walia directed the health officials to increase the percentage of cross-checking of TB patients for HIV infection. Delhi Government is already cross-checking 80% of cases of all types of TB patients for HIV co-infection as the co-infection is increasing morbidity and mortality to many times for both the diseases.
The effective monitoring holds the key to reduction in both TB and HIV infections, he said. He emphasized the need for involving more NGOs and private practitioners in implementation of RNTCP.
Dr. Walia stressed stated the only prevention of this disease is early diagnosis and early treatment under DOTS strategy as it gives more than 86% success rate among all new infectious patients stated on treatment as compared to all other regimen where the success rate is just 30% to 40%.
He made an appeal to all the practitioners of Government/private/ NGO sector to follow the DOTS strategy for the better implementation of RNTCP & also to notify all the T.B. cases detected and/ or started on treatment for T.B., as TB has been made a notifiable disease. The CMO In-charges of Chest Clinics are the nodal officer for notification.
The Health Minister informed that 52006 T.B. Patients were put on treatment and 13982 new infectious patients were put on treatment in 2012. He added that the case detection rate for all type of T.B. patients was 128%. He further said that 86% was the case detection rate for new infectious patients.
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