Lucknow, 23 April: Many new schemes and programs are being launched to fulfill the resolve of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to eliminate Tuberculosis (TB) by year 2025 from the country before the scheduled deadline.
However, in the same sequence, an agreement was formally signed between the State Tuberculosis Department and the Indian Postal Department at Swasthya Bhavan on Thursday, under which postmen will now work to send samples of TB patients to labs in all 75 districts of the state.
Earlier these samples were sent by the courier, which led to delay in identification of patients and commencement of treatment. With this agreement, Uttar Pradesh has become the first state in the country to implement this new system.
The postal department to deliver samples to 142 CBNAAT machine centers in 24 hours
The agreement was signed by State Tuberculosis Program Officer Santosh Gupta and Assistant Director (PD) of the Department of Posts, Om Prakash, in the presence of Director General of Medicine and Health Rukum Kesh. According to this agreement, the postal department will work to deliver samples from about 2300 authorized TB testing centers (DSTs) to 142 CBNAAT machine centers within 24 hours.
Samples will reach Drug Culture Sensitivity Test Center in 48 hours
Along with this, from 142 CBNAAT machine centers will work to deliver samples within 48 hours to Drug Culture Sensitivity Test (DCST) enters located in eight districts of the state (Lucknow, Agra, Aligarh, Bareilly, Meerut, Varanasi, Gorakhpur and Etawah).
Pilot project was started in four districts in the first phase
It is worth mentioning that under the pilot project, this program was conducted in the first phase in Lucknow, Agra, Badaun and Chandauli districts. Based on the success achieved during that time, now from May 1, this system is going to take shape in the whole state.
Soon after getting the investigation report, treatment will be faster
On this occasion, Santosh Gupta said that the biggest challenge in the case of TB patients is to get tested as soon as possible because a TB patient can inadvertently infect enormous people. After this agreement, testing of the sample will be expedited and their treatment will be started as soon as the testing report comes. This will reduce the risk of infection.
