------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Documented by Goa Desc Resource Centre Ph:2252660 Website: www.goadesc.org Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Press Clippings on the web: http://www.goadesc.org/mem/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------- Goa still grappling with tuberculosis --------------------------------------------------------- World Tuberculosis Day will be commemorated the world over on Wednesday, but does Goa have any reason to pat itself on the back? Are government officials really serious about alleviating the situation in the State which has remained status quo for the last decade or so?
Goa ranked number one in terms of health has still not implemented the Directly Observed Treatment Shortcourse (DOTS) chemotherapy for treatment of tuberculosis as compared to 70 per cent of the country already covered under this programme.
The number of tuberculosis patients in the State is estimated to be around 16,000 to 20,000, of which one forth is infectious. This situation has certainly not improved in the last decade, and in fact, the seriousness of the situation is now being compounded with increasing incidence of HIV-AIDS.
Training of doctors and staff for the implementation of the DOTS programme started in the year 2002, informs a doctor of the Health Services. In fact, assurances were given by a senior bureaucrat of the Directorate of Health Services (DHS) last year that this programme would be implemented from April to May 2003, and that too Nearly a year has gone by, and the programme has still not been implemented.
"We wanted to start the programme by March 24 (tomorrow), but it is not possible. The work is still going on, such as renovation of laboratories. Orientation of private practitioners also has to be done", says Dr V A S Palekar, Chief Medical Officer, TB Control Programme.
A senior bureaucrat of the DHS, who prefers to remain anonymous says, "Goa is in the final stage of preparing for the programme. Almost all the training of medical officers is done. Civil work is being undertaken. The programme may be launched in the first week of May, after the elections."
"It has been observed the world over that the National Tuberculosis Control Programme (NTCP) which is followed in Goa is not the best way to treat Tuberculosis", says Dr L Da Costa, Associate Professor, TB and Chest Disease Hospital."The hallmark of the new treatment (DOTS) is directly observed treatment, which eliminates default", he adds.
Explaining the advantages of the DOTS programme, Dr Da Costa says
that it makes sure that there is no default on account of shortage of
medicine as a complete kit of medicines is given to the patient. In addition,
it checks default at the earliest and facilitates early diagnosis of side effects.
One of the main aspects of the DOTS programme is that it involves sputum
microscopy diagnosis, which detects 'positive' sputum, the more serious
type of case and the patient who can spread the disease.
For the purpose of implementing the programme, Goa has been divided into three units; Panjim, Margao and Ponda. Each unit will have five sputum microscopy centres where diagnosis will be done. Each centre will then have a number of DOTS centres where treatment will be given. The entire setup will ensure that the patient will get the treatment at the closest place to him. ------------------------------------- HERALD 24/3/04 Page 1 -------------------------------------
======================================= GOA DESC RESOURCE CENTRE Documentation + Education + Solidarity 11 Liberty Apts., Feira Alta, Mapusa, Goa 403 507 Tel: 2252660 mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] website: www.goadesc.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Working On Issues Of Development & Democracy =======================================
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