Multi-drug resistant Tuberculosis patients to get free ration, prevention kits for one year

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) health department will be providing a nutritious food ration to patients suffering from MDR TB (Multi-drug resistant Tuberculosis) for an entire year. The civic body will also issue free nutritious food to drug-resistant TB patients for the first two months of their treatment. The scheme is applicable to all those who are registered in the Directly Observed Treatment (DOTS) centres.

If a person is suffering from TB, then the first two months are most essential and that is why we plan to give a ration of two months to the patients. In ration, we are planning to provide lentils, rice, gram flour, nuts and jaggery. The nutritious ration between 8 to 9 kg each month will be given at the DOTS centres,” said Dr Daksha Shah, head of the BMC TB Control Department.

The civic body has taken this step to ensure that the Tuberculosis patients get healthy food to maintain their nutrition level. A senior official said for the implementation of the scheme a budget of ₹1.2 crore has been proposed and even hygiene kit will also be provided to the patients in order to curb the spreading of the infection. Once successful, the scheme will be extended to all other TB patients who are taking first-level of DOTS treatment.

“Earlier, we only distributed food and protein supplements to drug-resistant patients. The idea is to provide it to all, even drug-sensitive patients so that they do not advance into the drug-resistant stage,” said Dr. Padmaja Keskar, Executive Health Officer, BMC.

TB occurs with a bacteria called tuberculosis which affects people with low immunity especially those who lack nutritious diet.According to doctors and specialists, a TB patient must have an intake of 1450 calories. In TB patients intake of nutritious foods is essential. As per WHO guidelines, undernutrition is a risk factor for progression from TB infection.

Also, the patients would be provided with a kit that would have surgical masks, hand sanitizes and a chemical for hygiene of people around the patients.

“TB is a contagious disease which can spread through the air so relatives of patients need be more careful to stop the passage of the bacteria among them. So, we have also introduced a kit where a patient would be provided with a kit with all required materials to stop it from spreading,” explained Dr. Shah.