Infrastructure gaps pose hurdles for Palamu's TB elimination goals
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Daltonganj: The Palamu district TB department is facing challenges in conducting Cy-Tb skin test and IGRA test that are done on people to diagnose TB.
Cy-Tb skin test, an advanced version of the Montoux TB test, helps detect latent TB infection.
Similarly, IGRA test serves to identify dormant TB.
Former civil surgeon Dr Anil Kumar Sriwastav said, "State govt TB doctors and community health officers conduct Cy-Tb skin tests, while an NGO handles IGRA tests. X-ray screening of patients is mandatory before both tests to rule out any patch of TB in a person. Person having any patch of TB is not to be put to either of these tests."
The absence of X-ray facilities at the Medinirai Medical College and Hospital, Daltonganj, has hindered testing.
X-ray services are available at Panki and Harihurganj community health centres and the Chhaterpur sub-divisional hospital.
The district also faces infrastructure challenges, including limited availability of Tru Nat machines, CB Nat machines, and microscope centres.
Respiratory health risks are high for the over 21 lakh residents of the district which has many stone crushing plants. Palamu has 4,000 active TB cases.
The department aims to test 3,000 additional individuals for latent TB using CyTb, whilst another 3,000 will undergo IGRA testing. "We are committed to eliminate TB from the district despite challenges," he added.
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