Health dept to focus on door-to-door TB screening

Chennai

This apart, they are also offering follow-up services at doorstep for tuberculosis patients.

Pointing to the decrease in the rate of TB case notification in many districts, Health officials said it indicated the need to increase case identification activities. Thus, as part of the national programme, healthcare workers are conducting on-field survey to enhance geographic coverage.

Despite stepping up efforts of symptomatic examinations of residents to recognise TB cases, the pandemic turned out to be a setback, said Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan. To counter this, the case finding activities under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme have to be intensified. Considering the challenges and disruptions, the officials are focusing on intensive case finding activity, said the official.

As part of this, health workers would conduct TB screening programme for the presumptive patients at their doorstep. In an instruction given to the district deputy directors, the Health Department has asked them to not only conduct symptomatic screening but also for those who do not show signs of TB, adding that even people who do not seek care should also be screened.

The vulnerable groups can be primary focused during the screening, with the choice of screening approach and interval being regularly reassessed under the programme. The resources required, capacity and the approach for the screening would depend on the type of group targeted for screening.

The Health Secretary directed officials to undertake the efforts vigourously and ensure its implementation, seeking district deputy directors to submit report on the activities that they have initiated.