24 per cent reduction in TB deaths in past 4 ys: BMC

Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has revealed the figures of tuberculosis (TB) deaths in the city, indicating a reduction in TB deaths by 24 per cent. In the last four years, the number of TB deaths has reduced due to preventive measures, and steps are being taken by the civic body to curb the rise of TB cases.

The BMC claimed that in 2013, it initiated the Mumbai Mission for TB control; through this programme, treatment was started for TB patients in government and private-run hospitals. Apart from this, since the last five years, the BMC has been conducting various programmes to raise awareness. As a result of these measures, the ratio of TB deaths in Mumbai has reduced.

Dr Padmaja Keskar, executive health officer, BMC, said, “In 2013, Mumbai witnessed 7,391 deaths due to TB. This number reduced in 2016 to 5,634 TB deaths. Between 2013 and 2016, the number of TB cases in Mumbai had reduced by 24 per cent.”

Dr Daksha Shah, TB control department head officer, BMC, said, “In accordance with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of achieving a TB-free India by 2025, we are going to start a TB Mukt Mumbai Yojana, which is going on from 2019 to 2025. In this, we are going to focus on prevention of TB and searching for hidden TB cases.”

In 2017, there were 45,675 patients who were detected with TB, who were admitted in government and private-run hospitals. Apart from this, between 2017 and 2018, the Gene Xpert test was carried out on one lakh patients. While 670 patients were detected with Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) TB in 2017, there were 545 MDR patients in 2018. Bedaquiline and delamanid have been made available.