FEB 20, PARSA
The number of children suffering from tuberculosis in Parsa, Bara, and Rautahat districts in mid-Tarai is far greater than that shown by government statistics. A new report said, in a period of nine months, 97 children were found affected by the disease.
Programmes launched in Parsa, Bara and Rautahat districts with assistance from World Health Organisation (WHO) found the children infected with tuberculosis . As per findings, Parsa had the most, with 48 infected among 2485 tested children. Likewise, Bara had 29 infected ones among 1691 children tested, and 20 among 1230 were found with the disease in Rautahat. As the disease is rarely found in children, the numbers have perplexed WHO, said Kanchan Jha, programme chief of Sano Paila, which initiated the programme with the assistance of WHO. Sano Paila has been working in the field of child tuberculosis .
The organisation has been examining phlegm, skin tests and x-ray of the people previously found infected by tuberculosis and HIV. Sano Paila has been providing treatment to the affected using DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment, Short-Course) technology and conducting various awareness programmes.
The findings have proven the lacklustre and ineffective work of the concerned government authorities, claimed Jha. According to government records, in the past five years only 37 children were found with the disease in Parsa.
Dr Rakesh Kumar Jha, associated with the programme, said the disease is transmitted when people with pulmonary or laryngeal tuberculosis cough, sneeze, laugh, shout or through mother’s milk in case of a child. However, the transmission of the disease largely depends on the immune system of the person. As the immune system of children is relatively weak in comparison to adults, children are more susceptible to the disease. Although it has been years since the treatment has been made easier and free, the inherent fear of social boycott has largely prevented the eradication.
0 comments :