Research underway on 10 new drugs for DR (Drug Resistant)-TB: Dr. Behera
Lucknow: Under the joint aegis of Department of Respiratory Medicine, KGMU, UP Chapter of Indian Chest Society and IMA-AMS a National Workshop on Drug Resistant (DR) TB was organized in hybrid mode at Kalam Center . The workshop was inaugurated by the Lt. Gen.(Dr.) Bipin Puri, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, KGMU by lighting the electric lamp, its purpose was to tell the importance of smoke free and eco-friendly environment.
On this occasion, Padma Shree, and Advisor, National Task Force, National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP) Dr. Digambar Behera said that research is undergoing on 10 new drugs to get rid of Multi Drug Resistant (MDR) TB in the world. With the advent of these drugs, the treatment of MDR-TB patients will become easier. Dr. Behera elaborated on the current status of DR-TB in India and the challenges and preparedness for the future as part of the ‘Tandon Mathur Memorial Oration’. He said that the NTEP being run to make the country TB free has made its place among the major and fast growing programs of the world.
Inaugurating the program, Vice Chancellor Dr. Puri said that out of the total TB patients in the country, 25 percent belong to Uttar Pradesh, which is worrying. That’s why we have to eliminate TB from UP with full promptness, only then TB will be eradicated from the country. KGMU is ready to provide leadership for eradication of tuberculosis in nine states of North India. On this occasion, he said that there are of 20 beds for better treatment of DR-TB patients in the Department of Respiratory Medicine of KGMU, which is the largest DR-TB center in the state. It is our endeavor that DR-TB patients do not face any kind of problem, for this, the Department of Respiratory Medicine as well as Microbiology and Pediatrics are ready at all times.
National Task Force, NTEP Chairman Dr. A. K. Bhardwaj appreciated the initiative of Uttar Pradesh Governor Smt. Anandiben Patel for adopting TB patients and providing them nutritious food as well as providing emotional support. He said that this initiative is helping TB patients to get rid of the disease in less time. Under this, nutritional packets of Rs 1100 are being provided to adults and packet of Rs 750 to children. Apart from this, under the Nikshay Poshan Yojana, Rs 500 is given directly to the bank account every month during the treatment of the patients.
On this occasion Dr. Surya Kant, Head of National Task Force (North Zone), NTEP and Head of Department of Respiratory Medicine, expressed his gratitude to all the doctors and others who participated in the workshop. He said – TB is not only a disease but also as a social and economic problem. Women who get TB are even divorced. Young children with TB are deprived of sports and if the youth of the house gets TB then the source of income stops. Therefore, if you see symptoms of TB (cough-fever for more than two weeks, weight loss), then immediately get free examination and treatment at the nearest health center. Delaying it can be costly.
The workshop was mainly addressed by Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Dr. Richa Mishra (SGPGI, Lucknow), Dr. Alpa Dalal (Mumbai-Thane), Dr. Balaji (NIRT, Chennai), Dr. Srishti Dixit (WHO Consultant), Dr. Sangeeta Sharma (New Delhi). On this occasion, Dr. Shaili Awasthi, (Head, Department of Pediatrics, KGMU), Dr. Sangeeta Sharma, Dr. Sarika Gupta, Dr. Suruchi Shukla and Dr. Ankit Kumar participated in the Panel Discussion on Drug Resistant TB in Children.
About 300 doctors online and 150 people physically joined the workshop including doctors from medical colleges of nine states of North Zone and District Tuberculosis Officer, thus a total of 450 people participated in this important workshop. Apart from this, State Tuberculosis Officer Dr. Santosh Gupta, Deputy State Tuberculosis Officer Dr. Rishi Saxena, Dr. R. A. S. Kushwaha, Dr. Rajiv Garg, Dr. Santosh Kumar, resident doctors, PhD students, all the members of DR-TB Center other staff were present in the workshop.
