A glimmer of hope in the dark world of Tuberculosis – Project SAFAL: a new initiative at Kachhwa Christian Hospital
Tuberculosis is one of India’s major health issues. According to WHO, in 2020 India accounted for 26% of the total TB cases across the globe with an incidence rate of 192 cases per 100,000 of population.
This disease is closely linked to socio-economic factors and Uttar Pradesh, the largest state in India, bears the significant brunt. In 2019, Uttar Pradesh had 20% of the total number of notified cases in the country.
Malnourishment, lack of immunity, unhygienic living conditions, lack of knowledge, unwarranted fears all make the battle against TB an uphill task.
When people in the rural areas are already struggling to make ends meet, contracting TB adds extra burden and misery on families. In our hospital two years ago we saw two sisters die of TB one after the other. Their parents had already succumbed to this disease while young. It was heart-breaking to see the brother lose all his family members to TB.
Kachhwa Christian Hospital has been involved for many years in TB projects through partnerships. This last year we have renewed our vision to fight this disease and reduce its burden in the community. We started by adopting TB patients in the community, giving them dry food ration, that would help them for a couple of weeks. During the winter months we distributed around 300 blankets to TB patients.
Patients with suspected TB who come into the hospital are guided by our community health staff and directed to the government facility nearby to avail the testing facilities and treatment. Today everything related to TB is tracked by the government and our Prime Minister has set a target of eradicating TB from the country by 2025.
In keeping with this vision, in March KCH launched a project called SAFAL (‘success’ in Hindi) to eradicate TB from Majhhwa Block. Uttar Pradesh, with a population of 220 million, is divided into 75 districts and the districts are divided into blocks. Majhhwa is the block where our hospital is situated. With 55 villages and a population of 160,000 people, Majhhwa Block is from where most of our patients come.
Project SAFAL’s vision is to eradicate TB from Majhhwa block within 3 years, i.e. by 2025. We have recruited a team of ten volunteers to do house to house survey identifying symptomatic patients. There will be a host of awareness programmes and close partnership with the district administration to achieve this goal. The challenge lies in identifying symptomatic patients and ensuring they complete the course of treatment.
The project was launched on 24th March 2022 on the occasion of World TB Day. The Chief Medical Officer of the district and the Public Private Partnership coordinator for the district TB programme were present. We distributed dry ration to the patients and encouraged them to be united in the fight against this deadly disease.
On the same day Kachhwa Christian Hospital had the privilege of receiving an award from the Governor of the State, Mrs. Anandiben Patel, for our positive contribution towards the fight against TB and adopting patients with TB. The event was held in the state capital, Lucknow.
Through Project SAFAL, we are hoping with God’s help to reduce significantly the burden of TB in our block. Through our various interactions during the course of this project we also hope many would not only move out of the dark world of TB but be directed towards the glorious true Light that overcomes darkness.
Contact us for more information on how you can partner with KCH through your prayer, giving, visiting and other ways.
For example, before Covid, Highfield Church in Southampton sent teams regularly to learn, pray and get involved practically. India is now open again to visitors after the pandemic.
