Indore: Despite the country having enough resources to detect, treat and control the spread of TB, each day nearly 1,000 people die from tuberculosis (TB) in India, with Madhya Pradesh being the worst hit. Looking at the widespread phenomenon, Collaboration for Elimination of TB from India (CETI) and Lions International jointly organised a rally to spread awareness on the disease here on Gandhi Jayanti on Monday.
The rally was part of the CETI’s innovative projects for TB elimination, first initiated in 2010. Under the programme, CETI has teamed with Rotary International, Lions International, doctors, government officials and local NGOs to work for selected interventions using quality improvement processes to control TB and eliminate the disease from the country. The rally was taken out from Devi Ahilya University campus, which travelled through major areas of the city before concluding at the Gandhi statue on Regal Square.
An awareness programme including a check-up camp was also organised by the members of Lions Club and CETI in slums of Badi Bhamori on the occasion, which saw a footfall of over 100 slum dwellers among others taking pledge to make the city TB free. Five people were tested TB positive in the camp, who were further directed to visit the nearest government hospital and avail complete treatment.
According to CETI, Indore district with a population of 3 million alone has 25,000 symptomatic cases of TB of which about 4,500 cases are put on treatment.
