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Around 1.8 million people have died from #COVID19 worldwide in 2020. And almost 1.4 million TB deaths were recorded in 2019 globally. Despite its widespread incidence, the services for TB, one of the oldest known diseases, were ignored amid the pandemic. https://en.gaonconnection.com/testing-times-screening-diagnosing-and-treating-tuberculosis-in-2020-took-a-backseat-in-india-which-has-the-worlds-highest-burden-of-tb-cases/
The #COVID19 lockdown saw a decline in TB case notifications in the country. As per data from Nikshay portal of @MoHFW_INDIA, a drop of 46% is registered in TB notifications between March and June 2020 as compared to the same time period in 2019.
@StopTB @G_C_T_A
@StopTB @G_C_T_A
India aims at eliminating TB by 2025. Sanjeev Nair, dept of pulmonary medicine, Govt Medical College, #Kerala says the govt would need more time to achieve this target as we have lost one complete year because of the pandemic. Read: https://bit.ly/394cQHa
@DrRaghuramRao @TBHDJ
@DrRaghuramRao @TBHDJ
Healthcare workers say fewer people come to health facilities for TB testing because of #COVID19. “In 2019, we had sixteen TB patients. But last year, there were only four,” says Parveen Bano, ASHA worker, #MadhyaPradesh. Read: https://bit.ly/394cQHa
@TbTouched @TBPartnersIndia
@TbTouched @TBPartnersIndia
“TB is a disease of poverty. It does not impact the rich much. COVID does. This is also why people are mostly focussing on its vaccine,” said @AnantBhan, researcher on bioethics, global health & health policy, on India's response on #COVID19 & TB vaccine.
@rajikatalwar @paimadhu
@rajikatalwar @paimadhu
“Machines used for TB diagnosis, such as CBNAAT, were diverted for #COVID19 testing. Since testing was not available for many, diagnosis was affected. People who were not diagnosed earlier might have continued to spread it to others," @AnantBhan.
@forTBfreeIndia
@forTBfreeIndia
One of the major factors for developing TB is #malnutrition. For this, the government has committed nutritional support of Rs 500 per month to every TB patient. But TB patients like Khumaniya Bai from #MadhyaPradesh claim they haven’t received it.
@sakie339 @glra_india1966
@sakie339 @glra_india1966
While the #COVID19 pandemic deserves attention and intervention, the response to it should not come at the cost of other health concerns. There has to be a lot more done if the country has to live up to the TB Harega Desh Jitega slogan.
@blessi_k @TheUnion_TBLH @TerezaKasaeva
@blessi_k @TheUnion_TBLH @TerezaKasaeva
