Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 03 November 2024
In a proactive healthcare initiative, the District TB Centre in North and Middle Andaman, in collaboration with the Primary Health Centre (PHC) at Kadamtala and the Andaman Adim Janjati Vikas Samiti (AAJVS), conducted an Active Case Finding (ACF) program targeting the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) population residing in Spike Island, Kadamtala. This outreach program aimed to identify and address potential Tuberculosis (TB) cases within this vulnerable community.
A dedicated medical team, led by Dr. Lustin, Medical Officer of PHC Kadamtala, joined forces with the Tribal Welfare Officer, an Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM), and support staff from AAJVS Kadamtala. They worked in close coordination with the District Program Coordinator, PMDT Coordinator, Senior Treatment Lab Supervisor (STLS), and Senior Treatment Supervisor (STS) from the National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP) in North and Middle Andaman, under the supervision of Dr. Prabir Kumar Palit, District TB Officer.
As part of this comprehensive effort, the team screened 122 individuals from the PVTG community. Of these, 56 individuals received physical examinations by Dr. Lustin to check for signs of TB. Following the initial screening, six individuals were recommended for further testing through sputum examinations.
In addition to the screenings, the healthcare team organised an awareness meeting with the tribal population and AAJVS staff. This session focused on educating the community about the importance of early diagnosis and timely treatment of TB, equipping both community members and healthcare workers with essential information to better combat the disease.
The collaborative approach underscores a commitment to ensuring accessible healthcare for vulnerable communities, especially in efforts to eliminate tuberculosis from the region.