The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will commence its annual door-to-door screening for tuberculosis and leprosy from November 20. The BMC through its community health workers (CHW) hopes to assess 49 lakh residents in 10.88 lakh houses for early symptoms by December 6.

Explaining the process, Mumbai`s TB official Dr Varsha Puri said, “We look to find new suspect cases in this survey and then their diagnosis is carried out for confirmation.” Sunita Sutar, a CHW in Bandra, said that it takes two days for the results to arrive. In case a person tests positive for tuberculosis, they are referred to a Direct Observation Treatment (DOTS) centre for TB treatment.