Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): The Government of India has set a target of making the country 'Tuberculosis free' by the year 2025.
Following this, Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Centre (BMHRC) started Directly Observed Treatment Short Course (DOTS) Centre at its Health Centre No. 5 in Ginnauri on Friday, which was inaugurated by Director-in-Charge of BMHRC Dr Manisha Srivastava.
On this occasion, Dr Lalit Kumar, Head of the Department of Respiratory Diseases, Professor Dr Mahesh Rathore, Health Centre Coordinator Dr Roma Rastogi and District Tuberculosis Officer Dr Pranjal Khare were present.
Free treatment to gas victims
With the establishment of this DOTS centre, gas victims and other TB patients living in Ginnori area and surrounding settlements will be able to get regular, free and quality treatment nearby.
This centre will not only provide medicines but will also ensure monitoring of drug intake, follow-up and counselling, so that patients can recover timely and completely. This initiative is an important contribution of BMHRC towards TB elimination under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme.
Mission 'TB Free India 2025'
Dr Manisha Srivastava said, “TB elimination is a national goal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'TB Free India 2025' mission and BMHRC is working with full commitment towards it. With the launch of the DOTS centre, the community will benefit from timely testing, treatment and awareness and we will be able to come closer to the goal of eradicating this deadly but treatable disease.”
The DOTS strategy has also been considered extremely effective for TB control by the World Health Organisation. This maintains the regularity of the patients' medication and reduces the possibility of drug resistance.
