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Ignorance leads to TB

By Robertson Tanti |

The world TB Day was observed along with the rest of the world at Orengajuli tea garden hospital on 24th March which was organised by District Health Society, RNTCP Udalguri in collaboration with Orengajuli tea garden.

Tuberculosis has become a major problem in Assam’s tea gardens, often leading to the death of workers. Experts say ignorance among workers and poor management response are to blame.

An awareness rally was taken out in Orengajuli tea garden to mark the day. The strong rally by the medical staff, ANM nurses, ASHA workers and students union ATTSA & AASA Udalguri was flagged off by Satyajit Bhuyan, Acting Manager Orengajuli tea estate in presence of District TB officer Dr. Robin Deka and officials of Revises National TB Control Programme (RNTCP).

In his short deliberation, Deka said the tuberculosis was one of the deadly and killer disease in the world that takes life of over 2,20,000 people every year in India. Since it is highly contagious it is difficult for family members of a patient to escape it unless they are very careful. In tea garden workers’ colonies, overcrowding and unhygienic living condition aid the spread of the infection, and ignorance further fuels it.

Beter housing facilities, proper drainage and better living conditions can go a long way in improving the situation in the tea gardens.
Hardly anything has changed ever since as far as the lifestyle of those living in the plantations is concerned- the estate executives continue to lead luxurious lives in British-style bungalows, while the workers continue to live in poor conditions in their well demarcated “labour lines” (colonies), where diseases thrive.

The situation can be improved, the disease can be controlled, but concrete steps at the community level and by the management need to be taken for that,” he added. The District Health Society, RNTCP, Udalguri also felicitated Nipun Karmakar, Medical Co-ordinator Mangaldai Circle, ABITA, C.P. Payeng, SMO Kalaigaon SD, Kalyani Tanti, ANM Orengajuli T.E., Sunita Baro, ASHA, No.2 Amguri under Khoirabari PHC, Mantu Deka, L.T. Udalguri PHC & Pranab Koch, Grade –IV Tangla PHC for relentless efforts to control the disease.

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Borengajuli Tea Estate Dimakuchi, Udalguri, Assam

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