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India accelerates the detection and enrolment on treatment for MDR-TB & TB/HIV infected people to save lives
Expanding access to drug-resistant TB services in India
India, the second highest populous country in the world -- accounts for the highest share of TB incidence cases globally. Among its 1.2 billion population, 2.1 million TB cases are estimated to occur annually. This translates to a quarter of the global TB incidence. In order to effectively address this challenge, the country implemented the Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP) in 1997 achieving complete national coverage in the year 2006. The RNTCP detects and treats approximately 1.5 million cases annually. TB elimination is however not achievable unless drug-resistant TB -- the most critical challenge in recent times -- is not effectively addressed. Diagnosis and the management of drug-resistant TB poses greater challenges due to the complexity of diagnosis, its long duration in treatment and the potentially toxic drugs. Additionally the high cost in resources, the transformation of clinical management into public health management settings, and the need for specialists' support for management make it even more challenging. Full story here as submitted by the Revised National TB Control Programme, India.
Joint TB/HIV collaboration in India saves countless lives
*Meena visited the government hospital in the East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh with cough and fever symptoms. Her sputum test revealed that she had TB. She was put on DOTS (anti-TB treatment). She was additionally counselled to get an HIV test done, which is a standard for TB care in India. Meena, however, chose not to get tested for HIV. When the TB health visitor made a home visit, he found that her HIV status was not known and she was once again advised to get the test done. She still did not comply. Under the TB/HIV Collaboration Framework, a line list of patients is shared. This list showed that Meena was recommended an HIV test, but had missed it. She was once again counselled and motivated to undergo the test. Finally, due to persistent efforts of healthcare providers, she got herself tested for the HIV virus. Her test results turned out to be HIV positive. Full story here as submitted by the Revised National TB Control Programme, India.
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