Nagpur: A walkathon was organized at Civil Lines on Sunday morning to mark the World Tuberculosis Day. Tata Trust along with all Rotary clubs in Nagpur, NMC, and City TB Office had organized the walkathon in which hundreds of morning-walkers participated. Officials of Rotary Club declared that a public awareness campaign to eradicate TB has been launched on the lines of polio drive.“Rotary Club has played a pivotal role in eradication of polio from country. Now, TB is our next target. We have made meticulous planning so that no TB patient should remain unreported,” said Dr K S Ranjan, former district governor for Rotary District 3030 of which Nagpur is an important part.Dr Ranjan said that more than 300 TB patients are there after every 1 lakh population in Vidarbha. However, only 200 of these undergo treatment in hospitals while more than 100 remain unreported.“Rotary has prepared a special questionnaire for city households. Our teams along with the local Anganwadi workers and women Self Help Group members will visit door-to-door and get this questionnaire filled from citizens,” he said.In next phase, the expert team will scrutinize these questionnaires and from the symptoms, we will shortlist the possible TB cases. Rotary’s mobile vans will visit the shortlisted households and conduct screenings of family-members. Those diagnosed with TB will be given treatment.“This is first of its kind pilot project to be implemented in Nagpur city. With support of NMC, Tata Trust and State Government, the Rotary Club will create all necessary awareness in people for next three years,” said Dr Ranjan.People who participated in the rally were administered an oath to end TB by maintaining personal hygiene, not spitting in open, and using handkerchief while sneezing. Meanwhile, the district health department has launched a series of programmes for spreading awareness about TB among people in rural areas of the district.

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