Posted: 24/03/2007
India has the highest prevalence of Tuberculosis in the world.
TB is an infectious and often deadly disease that most commonly affects the lungs. It is spread by droplet infection when people cough, sneeze, speak or spit, and it kills 1.6 million people worldwide every year, or 1 person every 20 seconds.
TB is both preventable and curable.
It is a particular problem in slums, as cramped living conditions mean that the infection spreads easily from person to person. People with poor diets tend to be more prone to infection, and once ill they may be reluctant to see a doctor as they cannot afford not to work. There is also a social stigma associated with TB in India, and sufferers may be rejected and isolated by their community.
Asha's network of Community Health Volunteers and staff at the Asha clinics combat these problems in a number of ways. Firstly, community training programmes are run to raise awareness of the problem and ensure that people will recognise the symptoms of TB as well as the adverse effects of the disease on the community as a whole.
Scrupulous community screening allows the disease to be detected and treated promptly. Asha collaborates with the government by participating in their DOTS (Direct Observed Treatment, Short-course) strategy. TB needs to be treated with a long course of daily antibiotics and the DOTS treatment makes it possible for healthcare professionals to make sure that medication is taken as prescribed. Asha staff also make sure that people infected with TB are counselled and advised on the importance of nutritious food and other ways to aid their recovery.
Finally, parents are encouraged to get their children vaccinated against the disease, and the vaccination is included in Asha's child health programme for children under the age of five.
These measures have resulted in improved attempts to combat the TB, and fewer incidences of the drug-resistant strains.
.gif "Usha, Shanti Vihar")
20 years ago, Shanti Vihar was unrecognisable - so much disease, mud and rubbish, and tiny huts for homes. Asha taught us how to prevent disease, and introduced us to officials so we could make improvements. Now it's such a nice place to live, nobody believes how bad it once was!
Usha, Shanti Vihar
