The Hindu : `Volunteers needed for anti-TB campaign'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 25, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka-Bangalore

`Volunteers needed for anti-TB campaign'

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI MARCH 24. While the anti-tuberculosis programme in the State was successful in most respects, it needed more volunteers to carry it forward, the Director of the Tuberculosis Research Centre, P.R.Narayanan, said at a World TB Day function here today.

"We need about 10,000 volunteers in Chennai alone for the Directly Observed Treatment Short Course (DOTS)," he said. The programme needed support from private medical practitioners to propagate the free treatment and medicines offered by the Government to TB patients.

The programme, organised by the Resource Group for Education and Advocacy for Community Health (REACH), started with a street theatre performance by the Gypsy Theatre troupe. It was followed by a short film on the group's work in reaching out to TB patients through community DOTS volunteers, among whom were members of women self-help groups and street-side `idly' vendors.

The executive treasurer of REACH, Nalini Krishnan, called for more DOTS volunteers to come forward and for establishment of DOTS centres. ``Everyone is at a risk of catching TB, but no one should be dying because of it'', she said.

Actor-directors, Suhasini Maniratnam and R. Parthiban, volunteered their support for the programme.

Ms. Suhasini added a personal touch to the event when she revealed that she suffered from TB about five years ago. However, it took her about three months before she realised that she was afflicted with the disease, and started treatment, Ms. Suhasini told the gathering of DOTS volunteers, private doctors and former patients.

Mr. Parthiban said he was surprised to realise that the biggest challenge in the anti-TB programme was convincing patients to regularly take the free medicines provided by the Government.

The cheers flooded the auditorium when the actor-director declared that a main character in his next movie would be a DOTS volunteer - a decision he took after he was inspired by the short film screened at the function.

Mementos were presented to DOTS volunteers and private practitioners, who were part of the REACH's initiative against TB.

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`Volunteers needed for anti-TB campaign'