In this fight, both the Government as well as voluntary organizations, led by the TAI, have played equal roles; each working within its limitations and constraints, One can remember the time, circa I960, when both organisa- tions were dismayed by the creeping public apathy against tuberculosis and called for concerted steps to ward off the emasculating complacency. Alas that apathy still continues. No doubt, the various committees meet at periodic intervals. Their deliberations appear to result frequently in pious resolutions. The diagnostic and treatment services are being offered to the community, but in a manner which leaves much to be desired. And, public cooperation and involvement in tuberculosis control may be said to comprise mainly of buying TB Seals. At times the funds collected painstakingly to fight tuber- culosis are spent in a manner that could defy a cost-benefit analysis. Active involvement of the people in the sinews of the war on tuberculosis i.e. case-finding and case-holding, is critically. The periodic national reports on NTP published by the Directorate very essential. So is the involvement of those who are likely to take a less pessimistic view of the situation. They should frequently visit health institutions near their place of work and assist them in reviewing their performance General of Health Services are a good indicator of the quantitative as well as qualitative short-comings of the NTP and should provide a broad basis for working out schemes or projects of cooperation between the Government and voluntary organizations to improve and step up tuberculosis case-finding and case-holding. Without relentless efforts and a crusading drive against tuberculosis, success is less likely.

» Free PDF eBooks Download
» Health Tuberculosis