Social workers say often medicines fail to work on TB patients due to their poor diet.
From her shanty in Ambujwadi slum in Malad, 11-year-old Dilshad Shaikh mingles with her two siblings and smiles as she finally starts her multi-drug resistant (MDR) TB treatment after being diagnosed in 2010.
Despite the government’s strong initiative to get a grip on the disease, Shaikh’s case managed to fall through the cracks for various reasons such as lack of awareness, illiteracy and poverty. Had it not been for the diligent social workers based in the city’s second largest slum, it would have been impossible for this labourer’s family to access treatment.
Vikas Waghware who works at an NGO’s Dots clinic at Ambujwadi, said, “Her parents don’t know much. We asked them to visit the Sewri hospital for tests but they reached late and missed their appointment. Another time, the doctors weren’t present. Plus, the MDR report takes three months to come through.”
After intervention by Navnirman Samaj Vikas Kendra, an NGO, Shaikh’s case has been transferred to a private doctor. “We took an appointment at SK Patil Hospital in Malad and requested the DTO to transfer the case as the family cannot afford city travel. Unfortunately, the child was underweight for the MDR drugs and the doctors had to wait some more to pump her weight but that couldn’t happen as there has been no change in her diet due to the family’s poverty.”
Social workers say often medicines fail to work on TB patients due to their poor diet. BMC’s TB officer for Mumbai Dr Mini Khetarpal said, “That is why this year, there has been a 100% hike in the allocation of budget for the NGO sector. Their role is very important and we need their help as they know the needs of the community.”
Dr Khetarpal says that the civic body’s aim was to involve as many NGOs as possible to reach the masses. “If you give us the details of the patients we can send out DTO officers to them. Also, 250 doctors have signed an MoU with us so that maximum people can avail of the treatment facilities.”
Social workers believe that things can improve if awareness is increased at the community level, with the help of private practitioners. “Linking of TB patients with other schemes — employment, PDS; improving public health services — early morning or late evening timings to improve availability of health services is also the need of the hour,” elaborated a member of a non-government organisation.
A doctor said delay in MDR TB treatment could have multiple repercussions, whereby the condition of the patient worsens.
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