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T.B. still a major health hazard

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI MARCH 24. Aimed at raising public awareness and mobilising sustained efforts for controlling tuberculosis, the Tuberculosis Association of India (TBAI) along with Care India today observed World TB Day by organising a seminar here in the Capital.

Rating the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme- Directly Observed Treatment (RNTCP-DOTS) strategy adopted by the Union Ministry of Health as a successful and practical programme, the Vice-Chairman of TBAI, M.M.Singh, while announcing this year's theme, "DOTS cured me, it will cure you too,'' said: "In spite of the available effective medicines and tools, tuberculosis continues to be a major public health hazard. In the world, every year eight million people suffer from this disease, and about two million die and most of the patients live in the developing countries. It is obvious that unless urgent action is taken more than 40 lakh people in India will die of the disease in coming years. Rising HIV and multi-drug resistant tuberculosis threaten to make the situation even worse.''

Outlining the aims for the year, he added: "While additional efforts are required to achieve the goal of being able to push up the detection and infection control rate, we also need to emphasis the importance of DOTS, raise awareness among political leaders, decision makers and opinion leaders about the implications of tuberculosis and to mobilise sufferers to demand greater access to treatment, so that once again they become productive member of society.''

Pointing out the shortcoming in the programme he said: "DOTS hasn't been able to make itself available to all, mainly because the Government has failed to recognise private sector and non-government organisations contribution."

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