Mangaluru: Dakshina Kannada district on Tuesday embarked on implementing revised national tuberculosis control programme (RNTCP) where TB patients will be administered the Directly Observed Treatment Short (DOTS) medication daily rather than three times a week. Meenakshi Shantigodu, president, Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat launched the RNTCP awareness drive under the aegis of department of health and family welfare.

Dr Badruddin, district TB control officer said 11 districts in Karnataka are already on to the DOTS medication strategy as per RNTCP and Dakshina Kannada has joined these districts. Asserting that the district will provide this new improved medication to TB patients henceforth, Dr Badruddin said awareness will be created about the new TB regimen through the seven TB control units set up across the district. Each such unit will have a senior TB treatment supervisor.

The unit will also have a laboratory supervisor, Dr Badruddin said adding bedaquiline delamanid drug that has shown potency to cure TB fast will be introduced to the district at the earliest as part of the TB treatment regimen. Hitherto, TB medicine was provided for three-days in a week. However, keeping in mind interests of patients, it will now be supplied for all seven days, he said, adding secrecy of patients availing these drugs will be maintained at all times.

The drugs will be supplied to patients through the nearest primary health centres or anganwadis, Dr Badruddin said. The Cartridge Based Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (CB-NAAT) equipment that aids quick detection of TB is being used at the District Wenlock Hospital, he said adding this equipment will also be installed at the Puttur taluk hospital at the earliest. Meenakshi urged all TB patients to make use of this new regimen and help district become TB free.