Gautam KR Ghosh¹* and Debapriya Mallick²

¹Reproductive and Child Health Management, Research Scientist with Health Research Institute in Kolkata and National Consultant, NACO, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India
²Public Health Expert, Kolkata, India

*Corresponding Author: Gautam KR Ghosh, Reproductive and Child Health Management, Research Scientist with Health Research Institute in Kolkata and National Consultant, NACO, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India.

Received: March 22, 2021; Published: April 28, 2021

Abstract

  India was dealing with tuberculosis (TB) epidemic even before the advent of SARS Cov-2 in March 2020. The COVID-19 onslaught observably engrossed the public healthcare infrastructure in pandemic induced exigencies resulting TB patients deprived of essential treatment. This paper aims to highlight the potential health risks faced by TB Patients during the largest lockdown and suggests advancement of patients’ support activities by developing systems for decentralizing drug dispensing, patient support activities, health promotion, tele-consultation and staff management in response to negative situation, and consider its positive aspects that should be acknowledged and included in the advocacy agenda for overall TB service enhancement.

Keywords: COVID-19; Lockdown; Tuberculosis; Health-risk; Advocacy

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