Calling for concerted efforts to tackle the deadly Tuberculosis (TB) disease, the Governor of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, E.S.L. Narasimhan, on Thursday said that the aim should be to eradicate TB like Polio.
At the inauguration of the 66th TB Seal Sale Campaign at Raj Bhavan, the Governor said that the focus should be on organising more medical camps to screen patients for TB to start early medication. The annual event is organised by the Tuberculosis Association of Andhra Pradesh, of which the Governor is the president.
Mr. Narasimhan said that for the country to progress, the health security of citizens was of paramount importance. Citing some challenges to the TB programme, he said that monitoring patients was one challenge since the treatment was a fairly long affair and there was every chance the patient might discontinue medication, assuming he was free of the ailment. Also, the Governor advised the association members to create awareness for doctors to make sure that they did not dismiss the condition of TB patients as mere elementary cough.
He pointed out that a holistic approach was needed, including awareness on diet, symptoms, and proper medication, to control TB. The Governor expressed his displeasure upon knowing that the association was being bifurcated and reasoned that since people from both States were being affected with the same condition, a united body would be more effective.
Earlier, Guntur and Ranga Reddy districts were declared to be in the first and second position respectively for raising lakhs of rupees by selling TB Seals last year, proceeds of which went towards various TB-related activities.
