Slum dwellers get information on TB symptoms, treatment

Amritsar, May 24

An awareness meeting regarding tuberculosis (TB) disease was organised in the slums of Indira Colony, which was earlier adopted under Project Axshya by the Voluntary Health Association of India.

While addressing the area residents, Gurbhej Singh Sandhu, district coordinator of Axshya, said tuberculosis was completely curable provided it was detected at an early stage and the patient took medicines regularly. As tuberculosis was a communicable disease whose bacteria spreads through air, it was important that everyone was well informed about its symptoms such as persistent cough for two weeks or more, fever, unintentional weight loss, fatigue and blood- stained sputum, he said. Anybody with such symptoms may be a TB patient and should immediately approach the nearest Government Designated Microscopy Centre for examination. He said the sputum examination and treatment of TB was being provided free of cost by the Government of India. TB helpline 1800116666 had also been launched by the government which is toll-free number and anyone could call on this number for information about TB. Rajinder Kumar, a community volunteer, said upon the detection of the disease, the patient is put on DOTS treatment which is administered under the supervision of DOTS providers available in the area concerned. — TNS