Tikapur Municipality Intensifies Sputum Collection Campaign to Identify Tuberculosis Patients

Tikapur. A campaign to collect sputum in groups to identify whether citizens residing in Tikapur Municipality are tuberculosis patients or not has been intensified. Under the Tuberculosis-Free Municipality campaign, the municipality has started collecting and testing sputum by going into the community among at-risk groups.

Testing camps were organized at Asnehari Urban Health Center on Asar 1 and 2, and in Tikapur-7 Nayabasti on Asar 2 and 3, informed Health Branch Chief Public Health Officer Bal Bahadur Rawal.

"People with persistent cough may have tuberculosis, they should be tested," he says, "The problem of infected people hiding the disease and not seeking immediate treatment is increasing the risk in the community."

Local levels, communities, and health institutions are making various efforts to make Nepal a tuberculosis-free country. The 'Tuberculosis-Free Nepal Campaign' started by the Government of Nepal in 2078/79 has been expanded to about 150 municipalities. So far, 174 tuberculosis patients have been taking medication in Tikapur.

"All services including identification, diagnosis, prevention, treatment, referral, and support for tuberculosis eradication are provided free of charge," said Branch Chief Rawal, "We have deployed volunteers in every ward for tuberculosis diagnosis." Female health volunteers and tuberculosis volunteers like Meena Tamatta say that there are still problems in diagnosing tuberculosis patients in the community.

The municipality, along with schools, social organizations, female health volunteers, mother groups, community development organizations, and urban health center Satti's AHW Govinda Kathayat, stated that tuberculosis testing camps were organized for at-risk groups.

"We are testing all those above seventy years of age with asthma and respiratory problems for tuberculosis," he said, "Along with this, we are prioritizing the testing of other at-risk individuals."

Tikapur Municipality's Public Health Officer Anton Bajgain said that efforts are being made to bring at-risk groups and senior citizens above 70 years of age to timely treatment by testing their sputum.

If one has tuberculosis, problems such as prolonged cough, blood in sputum, weight loss, excessive sweating at night, persistent fatigue, mild fever, and chest pain occur.