Latest news with #DOT
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Pete Buttigieg under fire for spending $80B on diversity policies while ignoring much-needed air traffic control upgrades
As Pete Buttigieg eyes a 2028 presidential run, insiders are highlighting how the former transportation secretary appeared to be more concerned with diversity than efficiency during his run as secretary of transportation. Under Buttigieg, 43, the Department of Transportation (DOT) spent over $80 billion on a Biden-era equity initiative in a four-year span, according to a press release. The program, called Justice40, was established to direct 40 percent of all DOT grant funding to 'disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.' Buttigieg far exceeded the requirement, allocating 55 percent of DOT funding to the program which was established to meet a Biden order meant to 'advance equitable outcomes.' There are also questions about whether Buttigieg prioritized equity over creating better travel experiences for Americans. In one meeting during his term atop the DOT, industry executives suggested upgrading air traffic control capabilities, but stunningly the Democrat shot down the idea because it would enable airlines to fly more planes. 'So why would that be in his interest?,' sources told the New York Post of the incident. An air industry official anonymously told the outlet that Buttigieg 'was definitely pushing an agenda,' adding the Democrat had 'little to no interest' in modernizing air traffic control systems. He took 'zero action' on the flight systems responsible for keeping travelers safe, the official added. 'At first, [the Department of Transportation] and he were reluctant to say there was an air traffic controller shortage or that the shortage had anything to do with flight delays or flight cancellations.' But a spokesman for Buttigieg denied that the former secretary neglected air traffic control issues. 'Suggesting that Secretary Buttigieg chose not to pursue air traffic control modernization is absurd,' Chris Meagher, Buttigieg's spokesman, told the Daily Mail. 'Secretary Buttigieg's focus was always on safety — not just in aviation, but also on roads and bridges, where 40,000 Americans die on our country's roads each year. Fixing issues with air traffic control was a priority.' David Grizzle, a former Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) official under former President Barack Obama, told the Post that Buttigieg's tenure was lackluster. 'There certainly were no remarkable achievements in aviation during his [Buttigieg's] term.' During the Democrat's tenure close to 11 percent of flight cancellations were due to failures in the national aviation system, according to DOT data. Most flights, 54 percent, were caused by weather conditions while 34 percent were due to faults from airlines. The DOT, under Buttigieg, approved roughly 400 DEI-related grants, according to an analysis done by the Post. Meanwhile, the first Trump administration granted just 60 DEI initiatives amounting to a few billion dollars. 'Biden and Buttigieg spent their tenure pandering to the woke mob and spent tens of billions on their anti-American DEI agenda,' a DOT spokesperson told the Daily Mail. 'Secretary Duffy is working to clean up the Biden-Buttigieg mess by prioritizing safety and efficiency, including by revitalizing our air traffic control system after years of neglect under Pete's watch.' Issues at the FAA, the agency overseeing national air travel under the DOT, have been notorious for years. The agency has not had full staffing levels for the better part of a decade, employing just 80 percent of the target for professional air traffic controllers. There have also been a number of high-profile near-misses in recent years where planes have narrowly avoided collisions. In 2023, a crucial FAA system went dark, prompting the first nationwide grounding for flights in the U.S. since the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001. Problems at the agency have seemed to persist through the Trump administration, too. Earlier this year a plane and helicopter collided Washington National Airport, killing all passengers aboard both vehicles, forcing the FAA to change its guidance for the region.
Politico
8 hours ago
- Business
- Politico
What's next for DOT appropriations?
Presented by The Association of American Railroads With help from Pavan Acharya QUICK FIX — The Senate Appropriations Committee is gearing up to consider its DOT and HUD spending bill after a House panel cleared its own version last week. Here's the schedule. — The FAA's finalized request for companies' ideas on revamping the U.S. air traffic control system still isn't out. And the timeline moving forward is unclear. — There's a looming trade war with the EU, and aircraft are in the crosshairs. IT'S MONDAY: You're reading Morning Transportation, your Washington policy guide to everything that moves. We're glad you're here. Send tips, feedback and song lyrics to Sam at sogozalek@ Chris at cmarquette@ Oriana at opawlyk@ and Pavan at pacharya@ and follow us at @SamOgozalek, @ChrisMarquette_, @Oriana0214 and @pavanmacharya. 'If you leave today, I'll just stare at the way/ The orange touches all things around/ The grass, trees, and dew, how I just hate you/ Please turn those headlights around/ Please turn those headlights around.' Want to receive this newsletter every weekday? Subscribe to POLITICO Pro. You'll also receive daily policy news and other intelligence you need to act on the day's biggest stories. Driving the Week MOVING QUICKLY: The Senate Appropriations Committee will consider its fiscal 2026 DOT and HUD spending bill Thursday morning, skipping a subcommittee markup. (House appropriators approved their version of the annual legislation last week.) The race is on as Congress faces a Sept. 30 funding deadline, with limited days in session over the coming two months due to the August recess. WHAT TO WATCH: Will the panel aim to keep DOT's funding relatively steady — or even increase it? How will the FAA fare? And will transit or Amtrak see cuts? — Where and when: The meeting starts at 9:30 a.m. in Dirksen 106. But as a heads up, the Interior Department and EPA spending bill will also be considered. IS IT FRUITLESS? It's unclear whether Democrats will play ball in the Senate as appropriators seek to avoid another continuing resolution. Keep an eye on the floor as early as Tuesday, with a test vote anticipated for the upper chamber's first tranche of Republican spending bills, including possibly one for the VA and military construction. That will provide some indication of how things are shaping up. Democrats may have little incentive to help the GOP out as a government shutdown looms: Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought says the White House may send another rescissions package to Congress soon. GET THE RUNDOWN: Your MT team had full coverage last week of the House Appropriations Committee's fiscal 2026 DOT and HUD spending bill, which the panel advanced. You can read more here: — Sam has a breakdown of the text, including amendments adopted at a markup. — He also has a deep dive into Republicans' attempt to repurpose more than $4 billion in 2021 infrastructure law funds to use for parts of their new legislation. — Sam and Chris reported on the GOP's effort to block any appropriations from flowing to New York's congestion pricing program. — And there's much, much more. Aviation STILL NOTHING: The FAA noted Friday that a finalized version of its request for companies' ideas on how to undertake the Trump administration's planned overhaul of the U.S. air traffic control system is not ready yet. The agency 'is continuing to review feedback, assess, and refine,' reads an update on the federal government's contracting website. 'A new publishing [date] will be determined.' OOP: As MT readers will know, the FAA on July 11 reported that the updated request was anticipated to be released early last week, with proposals for the project set to be due Aug. 4. Now, it's unclear what the time frame is. A TIGHT WINDOW: DOT Secretary Sean Duffy wants to complete the endeavor in three to four years, a highly ambitious schedule. Republicans in their recent reconciliation package gave the FAA a $12.5 billion 'down payment' for the effort, but Duffy told the House Transportation Committee last week that he wants $19 billion more on top of that to complete the entire project. FIRST IN MT: A group of 12 Democratic senators, led by Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), in a letter to FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford is requesting a slew of details about the state of the agency's staffing, citing the firing of probationary workers in February (who a federal judge ordered be reinstated) and the Trump administration's so-called deferred resignation program. The lawmakers want to obtain, among other things, an 'analysis conducted by the Office of Airports related to the impact of workforce cuts on its safety mission.' — The group also wants information about the FAA's use of artificial intelligence to analyze air traffic risks. ICYMI: DOT threatened Saturday to disapprove flight requests from Mexico if the country doesn't take action in response to the Trump administration's concerns over slot cuts and the forced relocation of U.S. cargo carriers out of Mexico City's Benito Juarez International Airport. Details can be found here. Trade A STRESSFUL SUMMER: President Donald Trump is threatening to impose a blanket 30 percent tariff on EU goods starting Aug. 1 if there's no trade deal with the bloc, and Boeing and Airbus are facing a devastating blow if European countries follow through on a potential retaliatory strike against almost €11 billion in U.S. aircraft and parts, Tommaso Lecca reports from Brussels. — 'A tit-for-tat tariff situation would put more pressure on the already fragile aviation supply chain,' said Marina Efthymiou, professor of aviation management at Dublin City University. 'Higher costs and delays in moving parts could slow down aircraft production and deliveries.' On The Hill LOTS OF MODES: It won't be as hectic this week when it comes to transportation issues on Capitol Hill, but lawmakers still have a lot on their plate. Aside from the Senate appropriations markup, here's what's on the schedule: — Tuesday: The Senate Commerce Committee's surface transportation, freight, pipelines and safety panel will hold a hearing about the trucking and commercial bus industries to discuss possible ways to adjust the FMCSA in the successor to the 2021 infrastructure law. At 2 p.m., the House Transportation Committee's Coast Guard and maritime subcommittee will host a hearing about the Federal Maritime Commission's fiscal 2026 budget request. — Wednesday: Three nominees for high-ranking DOT roles will face a Senate Commerce Committee confirmation hearing at 10 a.m. They are Seval Oz for assistant secretary for research and technology; Michael Rutherford for assistant secretary for multimodal freight infrastructure and policy; and Gregory Zerzan for general counsel. At 3 p.m., the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee's transportation panel will host a hearing about improving U.S. infrastructure. The witnesses are: Chad Orn, deputy director of planning at the North Dakota DOT; Marisa Jones, managing director of policy and partnerships at the Safe Routes Partnership; and Samantha Biddle, the Maryland DOT's deputy secretary. drones NONCOMMITTAL: Pavan caught up with Senate Commerce Chair Ted Cruz (R-Texas) late last week after some House members recently suggested they were interested in muscling counterdrone authorities legislation through Congress sometime before next summer's FIFA World Cup, which spans North America. Cruz said it's 'certainly an issue we're looking at very closely,' appearing to refer to his committee, and when asked if it's realistic that such a bill could get done prior to the soccer tournament, he would only say: 'Possibly.' Highways THOUGHTS, ANYONE?: DOT in a Federal Register notice says it's seeking ideas and comments from the public about the next surface transportation bill. NEW FACES WHO THEY ARE: Three DOT administrator nominees breezed through their Senate Commerce Committee confirmation hearing last week, and their initial questionnaires submitted to the panel are now available to the public. — Jonathan Morrison, the pick to run NHTSA, indicated that he might take an industry-friendly approach to the oversight of emerging software and hardware like automated driving systems, saying the agency must work to 'establish robust performance requirements that meet the need for motor vehicle safety in a way that does not hamper innovation.' He's a former Apple attorney and was the agency's chief counsel during Trump's first term, during which he tangled with Elon Musk's Tesla. — Derek Barrs, the choice to head the FMCSA, suggested that he wants to upgrade the trucking regulator's internal computer systems to 'ensure they can effectively support new technologies and withstand cyber threats.' He previously served as chief of the Florida Highway Patrol and is a school board member in the Sunshine State. — Paul Roberti, the prospective leader of PHMSA, who was the pipeline safety agency's top lawyer during the first Trump administration, wrote that it must 'rise to the challenge of streamlining regulations.' Shifting Gears — Jonathon Freye will head the Association of Value Airlines as executive director. He previously led government affairs for an aerospace division of Hyundai Motor Group. The Autobahn — 'Delta regional pilot makes 'aggressive maneuver' to avoid B-52 collision.' ABC News. — 'US judge sets August hearing on bid to end Boeing criminal prosecution.' Reuters. — 'NTSB chair says media reports on Air India crash are speculative, premature.' Reuters. — 'After years of tough rules on liquids and footwear, US air travel may be on the cusp of a new era.' AP. — 'JFK Lifts Ground Stop Caused by Disabled Aircraft on Runway.' Bloomberg. — 'Carmakers Face Uncertainty as Tariffs and Earnings Collide.' Bloomberg.
New York Post
12 hours ago
- Business
- New York Post
Pete Buttigieg's DOT spent $80 billion on DEI grants, delayed air-traffic-control upgrades: records, industry insiders
WASHINGTON — Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg failed to replace outdated air-traffic-control systems while in office — with his agency instead shelling out tens of billions of dollars on a DEI agenda, according to federal spending records and airline-industry insiders. In one meeting, Buttigieg — who is said to be eyeing a 2028 presidential run — told industry executives that air-traffic-control upgrades would just allow them to fly more planes, 'and so why would that be in his interest?' sources said. 11 Buttigieg told industry executives that air-traffic-control upgrades would just allow them to fly more planes. Getty Images What his department was really interested in was handing out hundreds of diversity, equity and inclusion grants totaling more than $80 billion over four years — at least half of the DOT's entire budget for a typical fiscal year, records show. 'He was definitely pushing an agenda,' an air-industry official said, noting the transportation secretary had 'little to no interest' and took 'definitely zero action' toward air traffic control modernization. Buttigieg spent his time in Biden's cabinet blaming the airlines for their delays and 'vilifying' the industry as a whole while denying his department's DEI agenda led to any air-traffic-control staffing shortages or was maintaining an ailing safety system that hasn't been updated since the Carter administration, sources told The Post. 11 'He was definitely pushing an agenda,' an air-industry official said. AFP via Getty Images The flying public paid the price, insiders said. 'At first, [the Department of Transportation] and he were reluctant to say there was an air-traffic-controller shortage or that the shortage had anything to do with flight delays or flight cancellations,' the air-industry official said. Chris Meagher, a spokesman for Buttigieg, rejected both claims and pointed to increased air-traffic-controller hiring under the former transportation big, as well as software changes to improve efficiency at airport runways, new flight routes projected to cut up to 100 hours off travel time annually and the development of communications technology to decrease flight delays. 11 Buttigieg spent his time in Biden's cabinet blaming the airlines for their delays and 'vilifying' the industry as a whole. Getty Images Former President Joe Biden's infrastructure law also provided $5 billion to improve air-traffic facilities' towers and power systems, he noted. 'Suggesting that Secretary Buttigieg chose not to pursue air traffic control modernization is absurd,' said Meagher, adding that Biden's budget request for fiscal year 2025 included another $8 billion in funding that congressional Republicans blocked. 'Secretary Buttigieg's focus was always on safety — not just in aviation, but also on roads and bridges, where 40,000 Americans die on our country's roads each year. Fixing issues with air traffic control was a priority.' 11 Chris Meagher, a spokesman for Buttigieg, rejected both claims and pointed to increased air-traffic-controller hiring under the former transportation big. Getty Images The DOT's Bureau of Transportation Statistics shows that most flight cancellations (54.3%) were caused by weather during Buttigieg's term, whereas a little more than one-third (34.7%) were attributable to air carriers. Just 10.6% were due to failures in the National Aviation System. Nearly 80% of flights were on time between January 2021 and 2025. Almost 7% of delays were due to air carriers, another 7% for late-arriving aircraft, and 5% was attributable to the aviation system. Fewer than 1% were attributable to weather. Airline-industry officials acknowledged that carrier delays persisted coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic but argued much of the infrastructure law's funding 'went to maintenance' of facilities and equipment, which is roughly $3.5 billion annually, not 'modernization.' 11 Former President Joe Biden's infrastructure law also provided $5 billion to improve air-traffic facilities' towers and power systems. AFP via Getty Images They argued that while hiring improved in recent years, there was still a high dropout rate and surging retirements from veteran air-traffic controllers. 'If you start with a thunderstorm early in the day, and it ripples throughout the day, which is the way it usually works … by the time you get to the eighth flight … it's just tagged as a late-arriving aircraft,' an industry official said. 'No matter what the original cause of the delay was, that always gets tagged to us as our fault. So it's a complicated story.' Despite the requested changes to the air-traffic-control systems early in his term, Buttigieg seemed more interested in being 'good on TV' than fixing the archaic systems that were flying up to 182 million passengers per year, officials said. 11 Nearly 80% of flights were on time between January 2021 and 2025. The Washington Post via Getty Images The Federal Aviation Administration has been chronically understaffed for years, with the agency employing only around 80% of the target for certified professional controllers at least since fiscal year 2017, which airline officials argued was the main factor forcing delays and cancellations. In January 2023, the agency ordered the first nationwide grounding of flights since the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks that left thousands of passengers stranded. The 2023 grounding was due to an FAA system outage. In an urgent letter to Buttigieg's DOT in April 2024, air-industry trade association officials warned that at the current rate of hiring, it could take as many as 90 years for the FAA to reach its targeted staffing levels in some of the critical New York air-traffic-control centers. At the same time, the focus of the department under Buttigieg also shifted, with roughly 400 DEI-related grants approved, according to a review of federal spending between 2021 and 2024. 11 They argued that while hiring improved in recent years, there was still a high dropout rate and surging retirements from veteran air-traffic controllers. Bloomberg via Getty Images Just 60 grants for diversity, equity or inclusion initiatives were approved during the previous administration, totaling no more than a few billion dollars. Programs such as 'Justice40' ended up shelling out 55% of around $150 billion in infrastructure investments to 'disadvantaged communities,' pursuant to an executive order Biden signed to 'advance equitable outcomes.' Biden's $1.2 trillion infrastructure law in 2021 provided much of the funding, but some Democrats were critical of the outcomes — including a $5 billion equity effort to build 500,000 electric vehicle charging stations that resulted in just seven being built by June 2024. 'Internal White House polling showed that airline issues and airline consumer issues were' key polling successes, an industry official said. 'At this point that White House didn't have a lot to sink their teeth into from a PR standpoint.' 11 In January 2023, the agency ordered the first nationwide grounding of flights since the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks that left thousands of passengers stranded. Getty Images Meagher said the department's DEI grants didn't delay 'the work of the FAA' and were 'a separate, siloed transportation mode.' 'You can walk and chew gum at the same time,' he responded. 'FAA operates completely separately than other modal administrations. So what happens at FHWA doesn't have a meaningful effect on FAA or NHTSA because they operate independently. It's separate staff, separate budgets, separate programs.' Buttigieg often lashed out at the airlines, blaming the industry — not the FAA which controls airspace nationwide — for canceling flights and bilking passengers for 'junk fees.' Just 12 days before the election, Buttigieg's DOT moved to implement a federal rule giving passengers compensation for every delay and cancellation of up to $1,000, even if it was higher than the original fare, prompting a blistering statement from a top airline trade association calling it a political stunt. 11 Meagher said the department's DEI grants didn't delay 'the work of the FAA' and were 'a separate, siloed transportation mode.' AP 'Secretary Buttigieg is proud of the work he did to improve the rights and protections of consumers – like making refunds automatic when airlines cancel a flight, proposing a rule to ensure parents can sit with their children for no charge when they fly, and ensuring individuals that fly with wheelchairs are compensated if airlines damage them,' Meagher said. 'USDOT also ensured nearly $4 billion in refunds to consumers as a result of investigations into consumer complaints.' David Grizzle, who served under former President Barack Obama as the FAA's chief counsel, acting deputy administrator and chief operating officer of its Air Traffic Organization, pointed out that paying 'less attention to aviation than highways or bridges' wasn't abnormal for a transportation secretary. 11 Just 12 days before the election, Buttigieg's DOT moved to implement a federal rule giving passengers compensation for every delay and cancellation of up to $1,000. Getty Images It's 'a very big job, and it covers seven different modes,' Grizzle noted, while acknowledging, 'There certainly were no remarkable achievements in aviation during his [Buttigieg's] term. 'The shortfall in budget is something that really began in the [2010s] and has really gotten worse over time,' he added. As of last month, an Emerson College poll of registered voters found the former transportation secretary leading the 2028 Democratic presidential primary field with 16% support, followed by ex-Vice President Kamala Harris at 13%. 11 Buttigieg often lashed out at the airlines, blaming the industry — not the FAA which controls airspace nationwide — for canceling flights. An Echelon Insights in July showed him in second place for the potential primary, trailing former Harris by 15 percentage points, 26% to 11%, in support from Democrat and Democrat-leaning voters. With the passage of President Trump's Big Beautiful Bill earlier this month, Republicans have now approved $12.5 billion in additional spending for Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to revamp the old Federal Aviation Administration systems. 'It's not so much that prior administrations have been especially indifferent; he's just been exceedingly attentive,' Grizzle said of Duffy. 'I've been on blue ribbon panels in Trump and Biden. … He will stand out for decades as one of the most engaged secretaries we've had.'
The South African
15 hours ago
- Automotive
- The South African
BAD news for motorists with expired drivers' licences in SA
Any South African motorists with expired drivers' licences are in for a longer-than-expected wait. Last week, it was revealed that the Department of Transport (DOT) filed papers with the Pretoria High Court to re-run its botched licence printing tender. The South African has been keeping track of the licence printing debacle that's several years behind schedule. However, the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA), has now revealed that papers have been filed to overturn the existing R886-million contract. This means we are no further along to resolving the issue of expired drivers' licences than we were years ago. Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has been under attack for her handling of the backlog debacle. Even though the irregularities took place before she was in office. Image: File In fact, so desperate is the DOT that it asked the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) to help print expired drivers' licences. However, even this hasn't gone smoothly, because the output needs to be approved the State Security Agency (SSA) before going ahead. The minister. had hoped for a three-month turnaround, but even this stop-gap solution looks unlikely. Meanwhile, it's estimated that the current backlog of expired drivers' licences now exceeds 600 000, reports TopAuto . Likewise, papers filed by the department in the High Court request a complete re-run of the tender process, which was originally awarded to French firm, Idemia. SA motorists will be given six months' grace if found driving without a valid driver's licence. However, you must be able to produce proof of renewal. Image: File Moreover, the sustainability of the DOT's ambitious new licence system is now in doubt. The department wanted fully digital, connected Driver's Licence Card Accounts (DLCA), but irregularities in the original tender procurement process could put pay to that elaborate idea, in favour of something more cost effective. The Audit General of SA's report found that Idemia had, 'failed to meet key bid technical requirements.' Primarily when it came to inadequate budget analysis and inconsistent application scoring. As a result, a backlog of expired drivers' licences continues to grow as the current, outdated printing machine suffers from frequent breakdowns. South Africa's aged card printing machine should have been replaced more than a decade ago. Image: File Furthermore, papers filed by the department outline other flaws in the tender application process. Including a R400-million cost escalation from the Cabinet-approved budget of R486 million, resulting in a total of R886 million. Even at this elevated cost, the successful tender used outdated pricing and omitted basic printing material costs, which would have increased taxpayer expense further still. It is unclear whether Idemia will oppose the DOT's court challenge. Meanwhile, anyone who awaiting expired drivers' licences is exempt from fines for six months. However, they must be able to show a renewal receipt as proof. At the start of July 2025, the number of expired drivers' licences waiting in the system were 602 831. 192 856 of which were destined for Gauteng, 86 862 for the Western Cape and 85 313 in backlog for KwaZulu-Natal. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Health
- Indian Express
‘Target is to stop spread': Screening camps at Delhi's urban slums strengthen fight against TB
Sheela Devi (48), a resident of Indira Kalyan Vihar, a jhuggi jhopri cluster in Southeast Delhi's Okhla Industrial Area Phase-1, stepped out to buy vegetables when Subhash, the village head or pradhan as they call him, asked her to visit the TB screening camp operating from his office. The screening was long overdue, she thought to herself. She has been suffering from fever for the last few months and coughs excessively. 'There is a persistent cough and fever which doesn't fade away,' she added. Her X-ray showed abnormalities and cavities in her lungs. 'Now, we will send her to the Nehru Nagar centre where her sputum samples will be collected for further evaluation,' explained District TB officer Dr Umesh Kumar. The village head has lent his office space for a screening camp under the Delhi government's TB programme for free for a month. A team of doctors, under the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP), are screening patients with the help of a handheld X-Ray machine and AI software, which identifies abnormalities in the lungs and is said to have minimal radiation exposure. According to the 2019-2021 National TB Prevalence Survey, Delhi was identified as having the highest TB prevalence in India, with 747 cases per lakh population. Under the NTEP, Delhi has been conducting screening drives in urban slums and has started the first phase of the programme targeting six high-burden areas — Nehru Nagar, Narela, Karawal Nagar, Moti Nagar, Babu Jagjivan Ram Memorial Hospital's chest clinic and Shastri Nagar. In Nehru Nagar, five areas have been targeted — Indira Kalyan Vihar, Jaitpur, Pul Prahladpur, Nizamuddin and Batla House. To drive engagement, doctors and volunteers also conduct door-to-door drives, and announcements are made on loudspeakers as well. Five X-ray machines have been set up in each camp in the slums of South Delhi. 'The programme has been functioning since last December, and we started again in June this year. Our target is to stop the spread of TB, and we need to do catchment at the mass level. Except pregnant women and children below 15 years, everyone else is being screened,' Dr Umesh explained. Since June, more than 10,000 people have been screened, and around 40 people have been identified as TB affected at such camps across the city, said sources. Along with the mass-level screening, these camps provide prevention therapy to people who are at high risk — they collect the medicines from the nearby DOT centre, a healthcare facility focused on tuberculosis. 'Before prescribing medicines under TB prevention therapy, we confirm about latent TB infection by the Cy-Tb test, a modern skin test for detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, a bacterium that causes tuberculosis. If it is positive in TB contact persons, we give them the preventive therapy,' underlined Dr Umesh Kumar. For this, the doctors deployed are particularly targeting the high-risk group, which includes patients with diabetes, those with alcohol or cigarette addiction, those who are not gaining weight and those who are living in families where someone had TB in the last five years. The camp at Indira Kalyan Vihar Jhuggi has been conducting 150-200 X-rays daily at the centre. Even as 5-10% of X-rays highlight abnormalities on average every day, not all of these patients test positive for TB. 'The X-rays highlight if there is fluid in the lungs, signs of pneumonia, old or new pneumonia and cavities in the lungs. If these abnormalities are found, we send the patient for further tests,' said Dr Umesh. With the X-ray machines, screening takes just 5-10 minutes, and the visitors can get details added to the system, which is convenient for many. One doctor, one technician and one patient mobiliser and a volunteer for registration of people have been deployed at each camp. Meanwhile, more women than men are visiting the camp at Indira Kalyan Vihar, according to the team. 'This may be because most of the women are at home, and the men of the house go to work. Which is why we are taking this till 4 pm to target the men as well,' said Himansh Parewa, junior field officer who has been mobilising people from the jhuggi cluster. 'We mobilise the community with the help of ANM and ASHA workers and TB health workers from the Dot centres,' he added. However, this does not mean more women are testing positive. 'Diabetics, malnourished smokers, those with a family history of TB have the highest prevalence, along with those who are living in poorly ventilated areas, which makes slum areas more at risk,' explained Dr Umesh. A majority of men in the area, according to Himansh, are factory workers who have to leave for work early morning, due to which it remains a challenge to screen them.
