Navi Mumbai: The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation’s (NMMC) health department has found 37 cases of tuberculosis (TB) during an active case finding of TB drive conducted as per the government guidelines. The guidelines stipulate that a door-to-door campaign be carried out to fight the disease.
The 15-day campaign, conducted from July 17 to 31, was part of the phase II of the active case finding of TB programme, which covered 100 districts, including Navi Mumbai, across the country.
Being carried out for the first time, the programme is aimed at detecting hidden cases of the disease. The door-to-door campaign had been taken up in three phases.
Also called TB Services at the Doorstep, it was rolled out in 55 high-intensity districts across 18 states in January. The first phase conducted during January and February, was held in Mumbai, Thane, Bhiwandi and Pune.
Dr. Deepak Paropkare, medical officer health, NMMC, said, “The campaign targeted 52,000 houses in 28 gaothans and 48 slums under all the eight wards of the corporation. Our target was to screen 1.8 lakh people, who have TB symptoms like cough for more than two weeks, a spike in fever in the evening, and weight loss. Sputum of all these examined were tested.”
Amongst those tested, officials found 37 positive TB cases. “Amongst them was one multiple drug resistance TB and three patients were found to be with extra pulmonary tuberculosis. The patients have started with short course (DOTS) as recommended,” said Dr. Paropkare.
The third round will be conducted across India from December 4 to 18.