BMC steps up anti-tuberculosis drive

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has stepped up its drive against tuberculosis (TB), calling for widespread awareness and new drug discovery to contain the spread of the disease in the metropolis.
"Modern techniques and proper treatment can stop the advancement of tuberculosis. The need of hour is to create strong awareness about the disease, its causative factors and ensure complete and free treatment and services at Government hospitals," Additional Municipal Commissioner (Health) Sanjay Deshmukh told reporters on the sidelines of a workshop here.
The training workshop on TB was organised by BMC along with Global Health Strategies to highlight the critical challenges in TB control.

Mumbai has created a 'Mumbai Mission for TB Control Programme' which addresses tuberculosis-related issues aggressively. The financial capital has about 30,000-plus cases of drug sensitive TB and 6,000 plus of drug-resistant TB, an air-borne disease transmitted through fine respiratory droplets from an infected person.
This vicious cycle of transmission and acquisition of infection can be curtailed if there is awakening in the health care provider and patients. The media can play a pivotal role for the same, former BMC Executive Health Officer Arun Bamne said.
Deshmukh said BMC is committed to ensure that all primary health care services are given to TB patients. "We at Mumbai are going all the way, proactively to provide services not only to curtail the diseases and death due to tuberculosis but to prevent the further transmission of TB in Mumbai."

Amita Athavle, a doctor, called for new drug discovery and more research for effective cure of TB.