BMC seeks better TB screening facilities

BMC seeks better TB screening facilities

In the second phase of its anti-TB programme beginning this month, BMC has sought more Gene Xpert machines from the Centre.

Currently, only Sion Hospital has the machine and it has screened more than 1,300 people, mostly in and around Dharavi, since installation in March. "We have sought one Gene Xpert machine for TB Hospital, Sewri, and another to be installed in the eastern suburbs. The machine helps detect in two hours if a person suffers from TB and if s/he is resistant to any drug," said Mini Khetarpal, special TB officer of BMC.

The civic body is also looking at organisational strengthening. "We have trained 429 medical officers and are in the process of training more. We want to involve more honorary surgeons who can operate at Sewri TB Hospital," said additional municipal commissioner Manisha Mhaiskar.

Increasing the screening capacity of the city, culture labs at JJ Hospital and Hinduja have been accredited. The door-to-door survey of BMC, which started in March, will continue in the second phase.

During the survey, 6,561 people were screened and 1,407 diagnosed with multi-drug resistant TB. "We are treating 885 people and 179 are in the process of being enrolled for treatment. The remaining are seeking private help or are from outside the city," Mhaiskar said.

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