Jahangir Alam, who is himself a TB survivor, works with Humana People to People India and has played a defining role in helping roll out a high impact intervention model to reach the unreached homeless and migrant people in Delhi, as well as in other places across India. Subrat Mohanty, is also with Humana People to People India and member of the Board of Stop TB Partnership. Subrat has contributed over the past years in strengthening community engagement and partnerships to boost India's TB response. They both accompanied Dr Nair too.
When a person with presumptive TB is identified, then frontline workers of Humana People to People India get an X-Ray and TB test done. If found positive the treatment is initiated without delay at the nearest public TB clinic. TASA follows up on a daily basis.
There are over 400 homeless people who live in this dilapidated multi-storeyed shelter home. Some residents said that it is threatened with demolishment. The upper floor looked as if it had been demolished already.
One female homeless resident of this shelter home shared that she even confronts discriminatory behaviour in accessing public bus or transport. Another said they face discriminatory or stereotypical behaviour by the staff of health facilities which deters them from going there. But when Chanda, a TASA worker helped support them, took sputum samples to the government TB clinic, helped those with presumptive TB get an X-Ray done, TB test done, then those found positive for active TB disease, could access TB treatment. About 15 people are currently on treatment in this shelter home and neighbouring areas who are followed up daily by the TASA worker.
The trust quotient between TASAs, Sahelis, and homeless and migrant people is evidently high - which speaks volumes for the laudable community work done collectively.
Homeless people shared with Dr Nair the help they got from TASA Chanda in getting their Aadhar Unique Identification Card made as well as Permanent Account Number (PAN) Card made with due process. Many got major help from Chanda in getting bank accounts opened. Without these, they would not have got the social support benefits which the government provides to the people with TB. For example, every TB patient gets INR 1000 transferred directly to their bank account every month during the treatment.
One homeless woman who is currently on TB treatment, confirmed that she has received INR 3000 so far in her bank account, thanks to Chanda for helping her get her IDs made, bank account opened and supporting her access the social support via due process.
Another 'Saheli' Maya (name changed upon request) told Dr Nair that she has lived in an urban slum (close to the shelter home) for over 30 years and she along with her family members do rag picking. Her sister got diagnosed with TB, accessed treatment and thankfully is cured now.
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