Many campaigns to eliminate TB have been running for years, but the number of patients hasn’t reduced. To tackle this, the government has launched the TB Preventive Therapy (TPT) program. Under this initiative, TB patients, their relatives, and close contacts will receive a six-month course of medicine to prevent infection. Suspected individuals will also be tested (NTEP Update).
Cooperation of Social Organizations in National Tuberculosis Eradication
According to District Tuberculosis Officer Dr Anupam Bhaskar, the cooperation of social organizations is being sought alongside departmental efforts to ensure the success of the National Tuberculosis Eradication Program. This collaboration has already yielded positive results. The government emphasizes the importance of screening and providing medication to relatives and others who come in contact with TB patients. As part of this initiative, the TPT (TB Preventive Therapy) program has been introduced. Under this program, contacts of TB patients will receive disease-resistant medication based on their age. Once the medication starts, it ensures that family members do not contract the disease or spread it further, effectively halting its transmission.
One Patient Can Infect 15 Others
District Program Coordinator Satendra Kumar explains that a person with lung TB can infect at least 15 others. However, within 10-15 days of beginning treatment, they no longer pose a risk of spreading the disease. The concern lies with family members who may have already been exposed to the bacteria but remain untested and untreated. The TPT program focuses on such individuals, providing them with preventive care. This program is crucial for achieving the goal of tuberculosis eradication.
About the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO)
- NACO operates under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, leading the fight against HIV/AIDS through 35 HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Committees.
- In 1986, after the first AIDS case was detected in India, the National AIDS Committee was established.
- With the rising spread of AIDS, the first National AIDS Control Programme (NACP-I) was launched in 1992, followed by the creation of NACO to implement preventive measures and spread awareness (NTEP Update).
About the HIV Estimation Report 2017
- This is the 14th edition of the HIV series under the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP).
- The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Medical Statistics collaborate to release this biennial report.
- The first HIV Estimation Report was published in 1998, with the most recent before 2017 released in 2015.
- The report provides updated data on HIV’s status across India, offering insights at both national and state/UT levels.
Importance of HIV Estimation
The estimation addresses a lack of reliable measures to monitor the epidemic and assess response efforts, offering vital indicators for tracking progress (NTEP Update).