Nine TB cases detected in jail

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 3

With nine cases of tuberculosis (TB) among the inmates of the Amritsar Central Jail coming to the fore, the authorities concerned have been emphasising on the precautionary measures to curb the spread of the disease, which is considered contagious.

The Amritsar Central Jail is bursting at seams as it is accommodating prisoners double than its capacity. Besides, the inhuman conditions prevailing in the jail and the lack of awareness among the prisoners about the disease and hygiene have added to the their woes.

District TB officer, Dr Naresh Chawla, said, “The jail, which houses prisoners more than double its capacity provides suitable conditions for the spread of the TB, which is hard to control. Against its capacity of 2,200 prisoners, the jail has been accommodating around 4,300 inmates.”

He said, “Chances of infection multiply because prisoners affected with TB stay in same barracks with other inmates. Though the prompt advice is to shift patients to the District TB Hospital where the patients are treated free of cost, it is not possible in case of prisoners.”

“We have issued an advisory to the jail authorities to separate TB patients from the general inmates instantly. As the jail has its own medical team and hospital facilities, the confirmed cases of TB can be shifted to the hospital,” he added.

While giving further details, Dr Chawla said all the nine patients were already there and steps were being initiated to check whether other fellow inmates, who have been staying close to them in jail, had been affected by the disease or not.”

Another major drawback pointed out by Dr Chawla was the lack of proper ventilation. He said, “Bacteria multiplies in the dingy closed area. If a patient coughs, it will transmit infection other health person.”

Meanwhile, the Volunteer Health Association of India, an NGO, has initiated a special awareness camp under the project Axshya while observing World TB Week - 2015. The inmates who underwent health check up in the camp were suffering from cough for two weeks or more, losing weight and experiencing pain in the chest. Their sputum samples were collected and examined at the government laboratories. Reports of those who tested positive for TB were sent back to the jail authorities so that they could be taken care of. District coordinator of Project Axshya, Dr Gurbhej Singh Sandhu, said every effort was being made to spread awareness among the suspected patients in the jail. He said, “Due care should be taken to maintain the immunity level of the body in order to avoid contraction with the disease.”

Jail Superintendent RK Sharma said the patients were kept in isolated wards in the hospital. They were being given directly observed treatment short course (DOTS) under the supervision of medical officer of the jail, he added. He said, “The patients have been undergoing treatment for six to eight weeks.”