Scourge of TB strikes yet again

Scourge of tuberculosis has hit Allahabad district again. In last one-and-a-half year over 7,000 new TB patients were identified under Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP) and put under treatment in the district till July, 2005.

Over 7,000 cases found

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Scourge of tuberculosis has hit Allahabad district again. In last one-and-a-half year over 7,000 new TB patients were identified under Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP) and put under treatment in the district till July, 2005.

These alarming facts have come to light from the official data collected under the RNTCP programme. The data reveals that as many as 82 TB patients died during treatment in 2004. In the last two years 207 children were also identified as suffering from TB in various stages.

The 10 TB Units located at Colvin Hospital, Beli Hospital, Handia, Phulpur, Soroan, Chaka, Shankargarh, Karchana, Meja and Koraon reported about 10,48,260 suspected TB cases at the OPD in 2004. Among them about 4000 patients tested positive for TB. However in the year 2005 over four lakh suspected cases were reported till July and amongst them about 3000 patients tested for TB. The drop-out rate during DOT treatment was also high. The official sources informed that about 200 TB patients left the treatment half way.

In the past six months about 8000 TB patients were put on treatment under the Revised National TB Control Programme.

However the official data claims that the against the given target they achieved 75 per cent target and managed to cure 90 per cent patients.