Over 500 diagnosed with TB at health camps in Raj

Jaipur: More than 500 of the 38,000 people who underwent screening for tuberculosis (TB) at the ongoing Mukhyamantri Ayushman Arogya Shivir camps in the state have tested positive for lung disease.

With the aim of making Rajasthan TB-free by 2025, the health department started holding camps across the state on Dec 15 for early testing and diagnosis to facilitate treatment of the disease. As many as 3,050 people attending these camps were advised further screening for oral, breast and cervical cancer, said officials.

In these camps, as many as 1.23 lakh people were screened for oral cancer so far, and 1,941 of them were advised further tests. As many as 54,089 women were examined for breast cancer, of whom 751 were advised proper evaluation. The screening programme also identified 358 people who have been recommended further tests for cervical cancer. Health department will continue to monitor the progress of the persons till they undergo confirmatory tests, said officials.

In the first ten days of the camps, 62,940 people were screened for ENT diseases, and 15,190 of them were found to have these diseases. Of the total 2.21 lakh people screened so far, 23,541 were found to be suspected cases of diabetes, and over 27,800 of hypertension.

"These camps provide rural communities with health screening, advice, and referral services for various health conditions, including cancer and TB. As many as 50 referral camps would be held at district hospitals," said director (public health) Dr Ravi Prakash Mathur.