TB Awareness Project

This is a small project awarded to IAPA, by the NGO, REACH, who are Nodal Agency for implementing awareness programs aimed at eradicating Tuberculosis (TB), from the Global Fund (GFATM), Round 9. By this project, IAPA conducts 2 TB awareness programs every month for different communities, like slum people, SHG women, students and so on.

Facts about Tuberculosis (TB)

Tuberculosis (TB) is spread by a bacteria called “Mycobacterium tuberculosis”

Globally, every 3 minutes 2 people die of TB

India ranks first in the number of people suffering from TB

20% of the all TB patients in the world are in India

33 lakhs (3.3 million) people are suffering from TB in India

Every year 1,20,000 new people get TB

4,50,000 people die of TB every year in India

70% of people in the age group of 15-54 are affected by TB

50% of women below the age of 34 are affected by TB

TB primarily affects the lungs, but it also affects brain, bones, intestines, reproductive/urinary tract, heart, skin, lymph nodes and eyes

TB is primarily diagnosed by sputum microscopy, which is done free by the government

Mrs. Kamala Nehru, the wife of the first Prime Minister of India, Sri. Jawaharlal Nehru, died of TB, though she went to Switzerland to get treatment, as medicines were not available in India then

The Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP) was started in India in 1997

Free treatment of DOTS: Directly Observed Treatment Short course is given to TB patients, under RNTCP.

6- 9 months’ of DOTS course can completely cure one of TB

Under DOTC treatment individual box of medicines is provided for each patient to ensure no shortage of drugs, during treatment.

Source: RNTCP, Government of India