NOIDA: Eight cases of tuberculosis have been detected in Gautam Budh Nagar during the first and second phase of active case finding (ACF) drive that was held during December 26 last year to January 1, 2021, and January 2 to January 12, respectively.
The first phase of the drive of both TB and Covid-19 cases focused on a highly vulnerable population across 15 sites, including homes for destitute, jails, children shelters, old age homes etc. During the phase, two patients of TB and five cases of Covid were detected. During the ongoing second phase of the drive where only TB patients are being screened now, six cases of TB have been detected out of a total of 2.22 lakh people who have been screened so far. The third phase is slated to be held from January 13 -25.
A total of 120 teams and 24 supervisors are deployed across the district, including Noida, Dadri, Jewar, Bhangel, Kasna, Dankaur and Bisrakh.
The district health department will also carry out a polio drive from January 17-22 where children below five years of age will be given polio drops on door-to-door visits.
"We have detected two cases of TB in the first phase of the drive and a total of six cases of TB in the second phase of the drive which will continue till January 12. So far, 228 suspected cases have come. They have been tested and sampled. Some results are awaited while routine testing is underway," said Dr Shirish Jain, the district tuberculosis officer (DTO).
With the central government's directive to root out the disease by 2025, the district health department will further carry out an intensive door-to-door TB ACF drive from January 13 to 25 under its TB control programme. "During the third phase of the drive, we will be meeting private practitioners and sensitising them about TB. Since the gazette notification says TB is a notifiable disease, we will urge all private practitioners to update us on cases detected at their clinics and hospitals and send patients to government centres because we are giving free and best treatment. Since treatment of TB is a long process, it's best to avail government facility which provides free medication. Also, once TB becomes resistant in a patient they need sustained monitoring to prevent further deterioration," said Dr Jain.