Tuberculosis is a top killer worldwide ranking alongside HIV/AIDS. Globally, in 2014, 9.6 million fell ill. 1.5 million men, women and children died. A recent WHO report has ranked India with having the highest number of TB cases in the world, Union Health Minister J P Nadda, said recently. As per the WHO Global TB Report 2015, in 2014 2.2 million cases were estimated in India which is higher than in any other country.
Loss of revenue and workforce caused by death and disablement is so great that TB has to be stamped out at any cost. Every year World TB Day is observed on 24th March to enlighten people about how to prevent, as well as cure TB. This year, WHO calls on governments, communities, civil societies and the private sector to “Unite to End TB” The government on the one side, has to take adequate step to detect, diagnose and treat TB. And on the other, educative campaigns need to be conducted to make people understand more about the killer disease.
Pratyasha, the palliative care centre, being put in place has been a dream project of CHAI. The centre has been built to care for the terminally ill / end-stage patients suffering from cancer and other chronic diseases namely TB and HIV/AIDS.
Axshya, another priority project of CHAI, focuses on achieving universal access to quality TB care and control for vulnerable and marginalised populations in India. Being implemented from 2010, in collaboration with `The Union’ and Revised National TB Control Program (RNTCP) supported by the Global Fund, the project is in phase III. So far, 23,906 TB cases have been diagnosed and treated in the community.
CHAI is looking forward to work with the UNION and Government of India on the urban TB Care and Control to combat Tuberculosis through involvement of private hospitals and private practitioners in seven identified urban locations in three States of India.
“Everyone with TB should have access to the innovative tools and services they need for rapid diagnosis, treatment and care. This is a matter of social justice, fundamental to our goal of universal health coverage. Given the prevalence of drug-resistant tuberculosis, ensuring high quality and complete care will also benefit global health security. I call for intensified global solidarity and action to ensure the success of this transformative End TB strategy.” said Dr Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General. For CHAI, “End TB” is part of its mission.
On this World TB Day, I, on behalf of the Catholic Health Association of India, exhort every individual in the country to take a pledge to work in whatever means possible for a TB-free India. By reining in Tuberculosis and other communicable diseases, we can unitedly transform our nation into a healthy one where everyone can live a healthy life.
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