FPJ Exclusive: MBMC Model To Be Replicated In MMR To Eradicate Tuberculosis

In a first, the MBMC has roped in the private players in the health sector including hospitals, medical stores, clinics and labs who are rewarded with 500 for reporting a case and another ₹500 after the patient gets fully recovered from the illness.

The initiatives taken by the health department of the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) to eradicate tuberculosis will now be replicated as a model in other civic bodies including municipal corporations and municipal councils falling under the jurisdiction of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).

India aims to be TB-free by 2025

The union health ministry aims to make the country TB-free by 2025 under the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) by emphasising on four strategic areas of build, prevent, detect and treat.

Realising the fact that a large number of people with TB seek diagnosis and treatment from providers in the private sector which leads to delayed or under-reporting of the actual number of patients, the MBMC has roped in all private hospitals and medical stores to get timely information about suspected TB patients approaching them for treatment or medicines.

Those alerting MBMC’s health department about the unreported patients get rewarded with ₹500 for the information and another ₹500 after the patient gets fully recovered from the illness. The health department has also created WhatsApp groups in which private healthcare establishments and chemists have to report about any TB-related information on a daily basis.

Health department conducts health check-up camps

Apart from this, the health department has been conducting health check-up camps and door-to-door visits across the twin-city-especially at construction sites and industrial areas which are more vulnerable for causing TB. “Impressed by the elaborate exercise, the state government had asked us to divulge details about the working process to our counterparts in the MMR,” said additional civic chief- Dr. Sambhaji Panpatte.

In response, a seminar led by Dr Balnath Chakor was orgainsed in Bhayandar on Wednesday in which a detailed presentation was held in the presence of participants including Dr. Aniruddha Kadu-TB consultant, for the World Health Organisation, Dr Rajabhau Yeole- team lead of the state technical support unit and tuberculosis officer from various cities.

MBMC bags top spot in its fight against TB

Notably, the MBMC had bagged the first spot in the state last year by scoring 92.52 marks for its excellent performance in the fight to eliminate TB. This year the scoring hovers above 87 marks as 2342 out of the 2734 TB patients have recovered so far. After new additions, the total number of TB patients who are undergoing treatment in the twin-city now stands at 1,590.