In March 2018, PM Narendra Modi announced the Government’s aim to eradicate tuberculosis (TB) from India by 2025. Tuberculosis is probably the oldest known disease in the world. The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared its mission ‘End TB Strategy’ in 2014, adopted by the World Health Assembly. 

With its huge population of nearly 1.4 billion people, India has taken an almost impossible task to complete by 2025. Although it is an overtly welcomed and praiseworthy initiative, India might fall short of time to reach its goal. 

According to the global report, the reduction rate of TB at present is 1.5%. Therefore, to eliminate TB worldwide, the reduction rate has to be increased from 1.5% to 18%. Moreover, it is not quite possible to remove TB from the earth’s surface before 2100.  

India has the highest rate of TB cases in the world. Though the annual report of 2017 has revealed a steep reduction from 2000 to 2005, the severity of COVID-19 has increased the rate of known cases. Hence, India might reach near to its goal in 2025 if the reduction rate remains more than 18% for the remaining years. 

According to Dr Rohini Kelkar, Senior [Su1] Consultant, Infectious Diseases, Clinical Microbiology, and Microbiology and Molecular Microbiology at Metropolis, New Delhi the clinical presentation complexities and the availability of various diagnostic tests reveal that the role of Artificial intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (MI) tools will work as a helping hand for the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme.

She added that the right test and suitable interpretation of the test result are important to cure TB.

Read the article below to become aware of Tuberculosis. 

What is TB?

TB is the abbreviation for tuberculosis. Tuberculosis is a chronic disease. It targets the human lungs and voice box. Moreover, tuberculosis can spread from the lungs to other internal organs.  

Stages of TB

Scientists and doctors have categorised Tuberculosis into three stages:

Exposure: If you come in contact with an unguarded infected person, you will get infected with TB.

Latent: Most of the population infected with TB do not show any symptoms at all. You will show positive skin tests and normal X-Ray if you are in the latent stage.

Active: If you start showing signs and symptoms of TB, you are at the last stage of TB.

Causes

The bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis causes the disease tuberculosis.

Moreover, tuberculosis is a highly contagious airborne disease. Therefore, tiny droplets are released from coughing, sneezing and talking. If you come in contact with an infected person, you will also likely get infected. 

Symptoms

You can spot the following symptoms in a patient with active TB:

• Cough
• Coughing up blood or mucus
• Chest pain
• Pain with breathing or coughing
• Fever
• Chills
• Night sweats
• Weight loss
• Loss of appetite
• Tiredness
• Not feeling well in general

Children are at a higher risk of tuberculosis infection. Check if your infants are showing any of the following symptoms:

• Has become sluggish
• Bulging soft spot on the head
• Nagging
• Vomiting
• Poor feeding
• Not gaining weight

Teenagers and young children below 12 years of age show similar symptoms to adults. 

Risk factors

TB can affect any age group. However, you should be careful, as active TB can spread outside the lungs into kidneys, lymph nodes, liver, larynx, skin, genitals, bones and joints. You should take extra protective measures if you are a

• Patient with HIV
• Patient with cancer
• Living in a congested area
• Living in an unhealthy environment

India’s goal in eradicating TB

India adds the most shares to the global TB percentage. In March 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared India’s pipe dream of eliminating TB from India by 2025. Undoubtedly a commendable initiative, the mission stands against the different complex structures of India. Hence, according to different experts, India might not be able to reach its goal anytime soon. 

Challenges India meets to eliminate TB

The government and private sectors are facing serious challenges while curbing tuberculosis. Some of the major challenges that you should consider are as follows:

Socio-economic condition: India might not be a poor country, but a few groups of people in India are still poor. Therefore, most Indians cannot afford a healthy lifestyle. People in the slum area, hilly regions and even in prisons live an unhealthy and congested life.

Hence, the breeding of harmful bacteria is common in those parts. Moreover, unhealthy habits of smoking, drinking, sharing unhealthy foods and drinking water may act as positive catalysts to the mass spreading. Hence, TB is also called a social disease.

Lack of awareness: Lack of proper awareness is another magnanimous challenge faced by the Government in cutting down TB cases. People in rural and somewhat even urban areas do not take proper actions and preventive measures against TB. 

Insufficient reporting from private hospitals: People often seek help from private hospitals for treating TB. However, private hospitals do not take extra care of these patients and do not report the correct number. Hence, the initiative is facing hindrances from responsible authorities.

What needs to be done?

Spread proper awareness among the masses.

Establish constructive cooperation of private sectors with the Government.

Provide free medicines and vaccines (BCG for infants) for the masses.

Train healthcare professionals about the necessary rules and treatment process.

The social and economic uplifting of mass.

Cleaner housing initiative by the Government.

Put more funds into the mission.

Final take

Undoubtedly, the aim to eliminate one of the oldest diseases in the world by 2025 is an arduous task. Furthermore, reaching the goal is a big deal. India is a country with a population of nearly 1.4 billion. Most of this population belongs to the below poverty line and is not aware of the fatality of tuberculosis.

Moreover, what started in 2018, came to a standstill in 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, besides the governmental and private initiatives, it is our job to make people aware and to promise children to offer them a nation free of tuberculosis.