A pioneering step in public health

Puducherry integrates TB screening into Family Adoption Programme: Puducherry has emerged as the first Union Territory in India to merge tuberculosis (TB) screening with the Family Adoption Programme. This innovative initiative aligns healthcare outreach with disease surveillance, offering a fresh model for community-based TB control.

As part of the strategy, medical students visiting adopted families also screen each member for symptoms of TB, thus bridging the gap between early detection and timely treatment.

Involving future doctors

The initiative empowers medical students with a frontline role in public health delivery. As soon as they identify any TB symptoms during visits, they facilitate immediate testing and ensure follow-ups are done, improving the turnaround time for diagnosis.

This integration is particularly effective in reaching underserved communities and reducing delays in medical intervention.

Static GK fact: Puducherry houses nine medical colleges, all of which have become instrumental in implementing this targeted TB outreach model.

Verbal autopsy for TB death analysis

A notable element of Puducherry’s approach is the use of Verbal Autopsy to examine TB-related deaths. Through structured conversations with the families of deceased patients, doctors gather critical data on healthcare-seeking delays and systemic issues.

Initial reviews suggest that a significant number of deaths occurred more than two weeks after diagnosis, underlining the importance of encouraging early access to care.

Static GK Tip: The World Health Organization (WHO) endorses verbal autopsies in regions where formal death certification systems are weak.

Colleges drive TB detection efforts

The territory’s medical colleges are actively contributing to TB control, accounting for nearly half of all reported TB cases. Their efforts include:

• Organizing Active Case Finding (ACF) operations
• Running TB diagnostic facilities
• Allocating beds for TB treatment
• Conducting awareness programmes at the community level

Their involvement ensures a wide-reaching and structured response to TB elimination.

High-tech diagnostics for better reach

In a bid to improve early detection, Puducherry’s health authorities have adopted advanced tools like AI-enabled chest X-ray devices and NAAT (Nucleic Acid Amplification Test) systems. These are used especially for individuals mapped as moderate or high-risk based on vulnerability indicators.

Follow-ups are scheduled for people with existing medical conditions or other risk factors, ensuring that they remain under observation in future screenings.

Static GK fact: The NAAT test is globally recognized for its speed and accuracy in identifying TB bacteria, making it vital in high-burden settings.

Inside the NTEP framework in Puducherry

The National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) has been in place in Puducherry since 2004, operating under the Health & Family Welfare Services Department and supported by the National Health Mission.

The UT has a well-structured TB care system with multiple diagnostic centres and a specialized reference laboratory offering culture testing and drug resistance checks. This infrastructure is central to the region’s robust TB response model.

Static Usthadian Current Affairs Table

Puducherry integrates TB screening into Family Adoption Programme: