Karnal topped districts in treating tuberculosis patients last year

Parveen Arora

Karnal, February 20

With 92 per cent success rate in treating tuberculosis (TB) patients, Karnal was at the top position across the state in 2023, surpassing the state average success rate of 87 per cent. It cured 3,927 patients out of the 4,276 patients last year.

Karnal district is among the five districts after Ambala, Bhiwani, Mahendergarh and Panchkula in the state to achieve the goals set up by the government for the elimination of the TB. It has secured 259 points out of 400, based on different categories fixed by the government.

The district also performed well in notifying such patients, as it reported 5,622 TB cases against a target of 5,300, exceeding expectations by 106.1 per cent. This accomplishment is even more commendable compared to the state’s average notification percentage of 83.2, said Dr Simmi Kapoor, Deputy Civil Surgeon (TB).

As per the data collected by The Tribune, the district has excelled in tracing TB patients and in follow-ups, besides meeting other parameters, including the universal drug susceptibility test (UDST), chemoprophylaxis and Nikshay Poshan Yojana.

“We are currently treating 2,079 patients and 1,300 patients have been adopted by the officials and NGOs. A total of 289 persons have been registered as Nikshay Mitra,” she added.

“In the battle against the infectious disease, the district achieved success in various parameters and we will try our best to continue it. We appeal to social and religious organisations to adopt maximum patients to provide them nutritional support for better outcomes,” Dr Kapoor added.

The Civil Surgeon praised the proactive approach demonstrated by employees and officials of the department in reaching and excelling in their notification goals.

“It was the result of the efforts of the staff members that the district achieved the milestone in the success rate of treatment of patients. It has also provided nutritional support to 4,202 patients,” said Dr Krishan Kumar, Civil Surgeon, Karnal.

He said people with TB symptoms should approach the nearby health centre for free diagnosis and treatment of the disease . “We are providing facilities free of cost to the patients,” he said, adding that under the Nikshay Poshan Yojana, the government provided Rs 500 per month to a patient until the treatment continued.

As many as 1,300 patients have been adopted by various NGOs and officials, he added.

Dr Kumar said their effort was to create TB-free panchayats, for which they had started identifying villages where there was no case of the TB, that are fulfilling all the criteria.