Far-Western Nepal Faces Challenges in Tuberculosis Case Detection Despite Control Efforts

Dhangadhi. Various efforts are being made to control tuberculosis in the Sudurpashchim Province, but the task of detecting new patients still appears challenging. According to the Sudurpashchim Health Directorate, the number of undetected tuberculosis patients in the province may be high. There is a risk of tuberculosis infection among many citizens outside the reach of the health system.

According to Manoj Prasad Ojha, Tuberculosis Focal Person of the Health Directorate, the target was to detect 6,384 new tuberculosis patients in the Sudurpashchim Province in the fiscal year 2082/083. However, only 3,651 new patients were found. This is only 57 percent of the target.

Among the nine districts of Sudurpashchim, the two Terai districts, Kailali and Kanchanpur, have become the main centers of tuberculosis. According to statistics, 68 percent of the total patients found in the province are from these two districts alone. 42 percent of new patients were found in Kailali and 26 percent in Kanchanpur. According to the analysis of Ojha, Tuberculosis Focal Person of the Health Directorate, the number of patients is higher here due to higher population density in the Terai compared to the hilly districts and migration.

Modern technology is increasingly being used to detect tuberculosis nowadays. Sputum testing using GeneXpert machines has been intensified. Last year, 2,253 cases of tuberculosis were confirmed out of 16,264 GeneXpert tests.

Similarly, active case finding by reaching communities using Artificial Intelligence (AI) equipped digital X-ray machines is currently underway. Many hidden patients have been found through such camps conducted in various municipalities of Kailali and Kanchanpur.

Tuberculosis treatment services in Sudurpashchim appear satisfactory. Among the patients undergoing treatment here, 89.94 percent have been successfully cured. However, the mortality rate still remains challenging.

Last fiscal year, 3.86 percent of patients died due to tuberculosis. The mortality rate in Achham and Doti districts appears to be slightly higher compared to other districts.

Similarly, 35 patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis have been found, the treatment for which is long and complex, informed Focal Person Ojha.

Ojha emphasized the need for community-based patient detection.

His statement indicates that the main tasks now are regular screening of patients coming to government and private hospitals, solving malnutrition problems, and preventing the trend of abandoning medication midway.