Mumbai: BMC set to screen 40 lakh citizens for TB, leprosy

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The BMC has once again launched a campaign to find tuberculosis (TB) and leprosy patients. As part of this initiative, civic teams will knock on the doors of over 9.86 lakh houses in the city from Monday.

The move is a part of its aim to achieve its target to make Mumbai free of TB by 2025 and the Centre's aim to end leprosy by 2030.

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As the COVID-19 pandemic had brought screening for other ailments to a halt, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation now plans to screen more than 40 lakh residents. It has formed 2,829 teams consisting one civic health worker, one female community health volunteer and one male community health volunteer. These teams will survey homes from 9 am to 4 pm every day.

BMC Executive Health Officer Dr Mangala Gomare said, "This screening campaign will run from September 26 to October 12. If a person is found to have symptoms of TB, then their sputum will be examined and X-rays will be done free of cost at the respective centres. If the tests confirm TB, the patients will be referred to the nearest TB centres. The same sequence will be followed for patients suspected of leprosy as well."

She also said that if a house is found closed during the first visit, the team will go back there after a gap of few days.