Last year in February 2024 this slum was demolished, making life even more difficult for them. Now, there is only a temporary plastic sheet which they stretch out in the night to sleep under. And during the daytime, wrap it aside to avoid any confrontation (with authorities who want them removed) and also to have some open space for rag picking and sorting. She feels that by April 2025 they would be forced to completely vacate the area they have lived in for three decades, as barbed fencing and wall construction work is about to complete soon.
Maya says that other Saheli members like her do not want others to delay seeking care for TB. In Saheli support group meetings with TASA, they regularly educate each other on a range of TB related and other health issues. Unless they themselves are informed how will they help others, rightly says Maya.
She shared that with support from Humana People to People India they have held regular health camps too, to screen people for TB as well as for other health conditions and link them to public care services.
For example, a mobile van equipped with ultraportable handheld artificial intelligence enabled X-Rays (managed by Medanta Hospital) comes close to their slum area where those with presumptive TB can get screened and linked to public services.
Another woman rag picker, who is also a Saheli, said that earlier most of the children went to government-run school but post-demolishment of their slum, either they have missed studies in the last year or dropped out completely. Addiction is another problem that is catching the young early - especially those out of school.
Bending the curve
Dr Sreenivas Nair said at the India Innovation Summit that India has demonstrated a commendable leadership in trying hard to bend the TB curve. Indian government's 100 days campaign to reach the unreached key and other vulnerable populations with best of TB services is laudable, said Dr Nair.
Government of India launched its 100 days campaign (in over half of districts in the country) on 7 December 2024 to screen everyone, regardless of symptoms, among key and other vulnerable populations, with ultraportable handheld artificial intelligence enabled X-Rays and offer an upfront molecular test to confirm TB to those with presumptive TB. A van equipped with such a facility is going daily till 24 March 2025 (100 days duration) to make this difference. Those who are found with TB disease are put on latest TB regimens as per the guidelines, and linked to care and support.
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