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TB CONTROL IN CITIES |
P Mercenier & J O'Rourke: Maharashtra Med J
1965, 12, 569-73. |
Tuberculosis Control Programme in the cities should
be a component of the National Programme which ensures that the
patients diagnosed anywhere should be treated in their own villages
through a smooth transfer and efficient referral system. With this
objective analysis of a large scale work done in Delhi Tuberculosis
Centre (Annual Report 1962-63) and Lady Willingdon TB Demonstration
& Training Centre, Bangalore in 1961 was made to identify the
role of State TB clinics in the National Control Programme. The
following observations were made: (i) Case-finding activity can
be easily carried out as seen in Bangalore city. 17100 (47.5%) smear
positive patients were diagnosed during 61-63 from the estimated
prevalence of 3600. (ii) It was further observed from both New Delhi
& Bangalore TB programmes that they have the heavy burden on
their curative services leading to constant flow of rural patients
to the city TB clinics. This will deprive the legitimate development
of the rural health institutions in carrying out the TB control
activities and decrease the efficiency of urban clinics. (iii) From
both epidemiological and sociological point of view it is important
to provide tuberculosis services in the rural areas to avoid the
heavy burden on the urban clinics providing curative services. (iv)
Existing facilities for tuberculosis services and beds are adequate
if proper co operation and coordination inside and outside city
is maintained. (v) Within cities similar coordination and uniformity
is maintained through central case index system. (vi) The services
and anti TB drugs are provided free of cost. (vii) Treatment of
bacteriologically confirmed cases, recording and defaulter retrieval
are more necessary than hospital beds and mass Case-finding. (viii)
BCG vaccination has to be pursued intensively within the city and
elsewhere in the country. House to house vaccination, neonatal vaccination
in the hospitals should be attempted.
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KEY WORDS: CONTROL PROGRAMME, CTP. |