Challenges Faced by Women with TB
Women face negative comments about physical changes due to TB and are advised to hide their illness.
They experience social isolation and abandonment by family and employers.
Fear of spreading the disease to children adds to their burden.
Women often normalize symptoms or prioritize caregiving over seeking treatment.
Financial barriers and lack of health-seeking behavior hinder access to diagnosis and treatment.
They often stop treatment mid-way when symptoms improve.
Loss of income due to job loss or inability to work is a major concern.
Lack of social support and pressure of housework exacerbate their difficulties.
When they lose their partners to TB, they are often abandoned.
Government and NGO Efforts
National TB Elimination Program (NTEP):
India aims to eliminate TB by 2025, ahead of global targets.
NTEP focuses on early detection, effective treatment, and prevention.
The government runs programs like Nikshay Poshan Yojana (direct benefit transfer) and Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (nutritional support).
Prevention is a key pillar of the governments efforts.
NGO Advocacy:
NGOs emphasize the need for robust implementation of benefit schemes.
They advocate for essential medicines and nutritional support to reach the poorest.
They highlight the need for community engagement.
Health Ministry Initiatives:
The ministry works to identify and solve technical and administrative challenges.
They work to improve private sector engagement.
They prioritize advocacy, communication and social mobilization.
The Overall TB Situation in India
India accounts for 27% of global TB cases.
An estimated 331,000 deaths occurred due to TB in India in 2022.
Drug-resistant TB and HIV co-infection are significant concerns.
Men are more affected by TB than women, but women face unique challenges.
Studies highlight the ongoing impact of gender roles and norms on women's access to TB care.
Reviews indicate that stigma, lack of health-seeking behavior, and poverty remain major hurdles.
The draft national strategic plan of India for TB 2017–2025 estimated that about 3 million women would be affected by TB every year.
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