Hyderabad: Addressing the participants at the 69th TB seal sale campaign, jointly organised by the TB Associations of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana at the Samskruthi community centre at Raj Bhavan on Wednesday, the Governor of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana E.S.L. Narasimhan said that major problem with Tuberculosis is that it is detected at a very late stage. He said TB is considered to be a dangerous disease and it is said to be mostly a contagious disease but there is no data to confirm how it is spread. He said he is happy to note that equipment is now available to detect TB within one hour’s time with 90 per cent success rate and it should be kept to use on regular basis.
The Governor said teams of professionals should go to village-by-village and conduct regular screening, by taking up some villages on pilot, if necessary. He said after screening and detection of TB, medication is most important and said he is happy note that AP and Telangana governments are giving medicines free. He said it is necessary to undertake periodical check on patients whether they are using medicines on regular basis and monitor how the recovery is progressing. The Governor said merely giving money will not help unless healthy nutrition is also provided and said the volunteers and professionals should ensure that the disease does not recur. The Governor said that awareness about the TB should be spread and sees that the affected people do not feel shy of or feel excluded from the society and said that they should remain where they are and obtain treatment for the disease.
The Governor appreciated the efforts of TB Associations of AP and Telangana and Dr. Arun Kumar Kanti Mohanty of AMG International for spreading awareness and containment of the disease. The Governor said the problem should be effectively addressed by organising screening camps at village congregations and explains to people about the disease and how it can be cured by regular medication. He said as far as TB is concerned, prevention is better than cure and requested the officials of the TB Associations and members of voluntary organisations to ensure to achieve the target of making the country TB-free by 2025.
