Important Health Education Messages
Tuberculosis is curable
Tuberculosis is not hereditary.

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease.

Tuberculosis spreads through sputum and cough.

Persistent cough is an important symptom of tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis is completely curable with regular and complete treatment.

DOTS – sure cure for TB.

Facilities for diagnosis and treatment are available free of cost at all Govt. health facilities.

Avoid spitting indiscriminately. Practice good hygienic habits.

Role of Other Sectors
Involvement of ESIS
ESIS caters to large number of beneficiaries (over 40 lakhs including insured persons & their family members).
ESIS involvement enable access to diagnosis & treatment services under DOTS free of cost.
There will be universality in management of TB patients in the Government sector – will prevent default from the treatment.

Current status
Directives issued by ESIS–Commissioner for involvement of all ESIS health facilities in RNTCP.
Sensitization of ESIS –Commissioner, Director & all chest physicians & Medical Superintendents completed.

Medical College involvement – Present Status
38 Medical Colleges involved in RNTCP.
Medical Colleges with TU – 3.
Medical Colleges with MC cum DOT center – 32.
Medical Colleges with DOT center –3.

Activities initiated

• First zonal workshop for involvement of Medical Colleges was held at LTM Medical College, Mumbai.
• State Task force established & first meeting held in July 2003.
• All Medical Colleges formed Core committees.
• Training/Sensitization of Core team members begun & will be completed before December 2003.
• All District TB Officers to visit medical Colleges in their area, appraise core team members for establishing Microscopy cum DOT Center.

What core committees will do?

• Core committee will meet once in a month & co–ordinate with RNTCP to ensure.
• Establishment of microscopy & DOT center in all the Medical Colleges.
• Practice of 3 sputum examinations for all chest symptomatics referred.
• Maintaining only one laboratory register.
• Up–gradation of laboratory through DTCS wherever required.
• Orientation & sensitization of faculty members to ensure internal referrals of all chest symptomatics for diagnosis & treatment as per RNTCP guidelines.
• Training of program staff whenever required.
• Involvement in quality assurance network through Microbiology department.
• Consultation & management of difficult cases.
• Ensure availability of DOT directory of district & TU directory of state at the DOT Center for prompt & accurate referral of cases.
• Display of IEC material at OPD’s & Health education to all patients attending OPD.
• Teaching & training of paramedical staff, NGO’S, Railways, Private practitioners etc.
• Ensure Co–ordination between Voluntary Counselling and Testing Centre (VCTC) & MC cum DOT Center.

Impact
Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program.

All services are free under DOTS.

Over 35000 patients are now being diagnosed and put on treatment each quarter.

Treatment success rates are more than 85%.