New Delhi: The International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease today said the role of media is important in making India a TB-Free country.
In a round table organised here, panelists urged the media to use their reportage to spread awareness about TB, provide information about its diagnosis and treatment that can be availed of for free at government health centers.
Experts from different healthcare institutes discussed shortcomings and long-standing challenges in TB prevention and care, like insufficient funding, delayed and missed diagnosis, low treatment adherence and stigma, said a statement issued by the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease.
They also deliberated on new strategies and innovative policies needed to reduce the prevalence of TB in India.
One of the panelists said there is an annual decline of only two percent in TB cases but to reach the envisioned a TB-free India, it should be 10 percent.
This finding highlights the need for accelerated efforts if India is to meet the goals set forth by the universal End TB Strategy, which aims to achieve 95 percent reduction in TB deaths, 90 percent reduction in TB instances and zero catastrophic costs due to TB by 2035, he said.
Dr Urvashi Singh, Chief Tuberculosis Section Department of Microbiology, AIIMS suggested issues regarding tuberculosis that need to be highlighted are stigma, early diagnosis and daily treatment and it is important that the media covers these issues.
