After filaria, health dept to rope in community radio for ‘Stop TB’

Lucknow: The state health department has decided to harness the power of community radio to create awareness about TB. Sharing this on Monday, state TB officer Dr Shailendra Bhatnagar said: "Public awareness and participation are extremely crucial for the success of TB mitigation. Radio has been a potent tool for health communication, and therefore we have decided to rope in community radio, which sends messages in a much more localised way."

Dr Bhatnagar convened a meeting of community radio leads from across 40 platforms. Organised with the support of ‘SMART' and the Centre for Advocacy and Research, the training focused on the need to fuel the ongoing 100-day intensive TB campaign.

He advised radio representatives to inform the public that TB can cause infertility in women, and children and the elderly are more susceptible to TB due to weaker immune systems.

A participant asked why patients discontinue treatment. Dr Bhatnagar replied that within two months of treatment, about 80per cent of the bacteria die, and patients start feeling better. This often leads to patients stopping their treatment. However, it can take four months or more to eliminate the remaining 20per cent bacteria. Discontinuing treatment can lead to drug-resistant TB. Supervisors monitor patients and motivate them through counselling to bring them back to treatment.

The programme stressed upon inspiring people through stories of TB survivors and disseminating information about govt schemes like the Nikshay Poshan Yojana.

Earlier, the department had tied up with community radio players for the filaria eradication programme.