World TB Day observed at Wenlock Hospital

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, March 24: Wenlock Hospital, the district administration, DK Zilla Panchayath, District Department of Health and Family Welfare, District TB Prevention Association, and Rotary Club jointly organized a workshop in observance of the World TB Day at the Regional Advanced Pediatric Care Centre (RAPCC), Wenlock Hospital, Mangalore on March 24, Wednesday.










Dr. H Jagannath, chief of the District Department of Health and Family Welfare, made the welcome speech. Dr. M Ramakrishna Rao delivered the keynote address, in which he said that TB is an even bigger killer than AIDS, adding the smoking is one of the factors that cause TB. Expressing hope that TB can be fully eradicated by 2015, he spoke about Direct Observation Treatment Short Course (DOTS). He also gave some general statistics regarding TB in India, saying that 40 percent Indians are getting infected with TB and that 1.8 million people are getting diagnosed with TB annually. The incidence of TB in North India is higher, he said, adding that approximately 5 percent of TB patients are tested HIV positive.

District-in-charge Minister Krishna J Palemar inaugurated the programme. In his inaugural speech, he said that TB is a severe infection, the transmission of which must be stopped, especially since we now have advanced facilities such as “108 Ambulance” throughout the district. The government is also supporting the heath department and planning to implement the “104 Ambulance,” which will rush to the spot with doctor as well as medicines, he said.

Vice President of the DK Zilla Panchayath Jagannath Salian, Rajashree Hegde, and Dr. B Devadas Rai were also present during this occasion.