The awareness campaign will highlight the importance of early diagnosis, regular dosage, completion of treatment and patient compliance to help control the disease
Cadila Pharmaceuticals is planning various activities across Maharashtra to raise awareness about Tuberculosis on World TB Day. The activities will engage doctors, hospitals, medical colleges and youth through awareness rallies and marathons, in-clinic posters, CMEs (continuous medical education) and skits/street plays. The awareness campaign will highlight the importance of early diagnosis, regular dosage, completion of treatment and patient compliance to help control the disease.
As per estimates, in Mumbai every year over 1.35 lakh TB patient are reported. In Mumbai, per every lakh population, 67 cases are of Sputum – positive TB, 26 of Sputum – Negative TB and 21 are of extra pulmonary TB.
Dr KC Mohanty, Director, Chest Department, K J Somaiya Medical College & Environmental Medical Association of India said, “Tuberculosis is not controlled till now because nobody has took it seriously due to which TB prevalence is high in the country claiming loss of life. According to estimates, almost 40 per cent of the Indian population is infected with TB bacteria out of which a vast majority suffers from latent rather than active TB. Every year in India, TB infects around 2.3 million people and kills 300,000. Recently Mr. Amitabh Bachchan has also joined hand with Maharashtra Government to launch Anti TB Campaign “TB Harega, Desh Jeetega”, such campaigns generating awareness about prevention, timely diagnosis and treatment of TB should continue to Eliminate TB from India.”
Dr Yatin Dholakia, Secretary & Technical Advisor, The Maharashtra State Anti TB Association said, “Globally, nine million people fell ill with TB, almost half a million of whom have a multi-drug resistant disease which is far harder to treat. Recent years have seen tremendous progress in the fight against TB, with over 37 million lives saved, but much more needs to be done. An estimated 1.5 million people still die of tuberculosis each year. In 2013 there were an estimated 1.1 million people co-infected with HIV and TB, 360 000 of whom died.”