By the Editor
Serious crimes, if not nipped in the bud, may unexpectedly resurface any time and inflict a heavy toll on human lives. So also, this is the case with deadly diseases like tuberculosis which once upon a time not long ago caused fear and panic among people. This dreaded and frightening disease did not spare anyone- young or old, males or females, rich or poor. Once the harmful bacteria known as tubercle bacilli (TB) attacked any person, it was only a matter of time that he or she would succumb. The life of famous English poet John Keats (1795-1821) was cut short at the age of 25 by the dreaded disease which was then incurable. Notable Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) could not live beyond the age of 44. Until 1947, the year that India achieved independence, spread of the horrible disease could not be checked in spite of best efforts by researchers and scientists to eradicate it. Until then, there were no medicines or drugs to control TB except knowledge of natural cure like need for rest, fresh air and nutritious food which, however, took quite a lot of time. Commitment, dedication and perseverance by medical personnel, including those involved in research and scientific experiments, finally succeeded in their efforts through drugs at affordable rates. For many years hence, doctors and the public at large presumed that the contagious disease was eradicated.
After a gap of about 40-45 years, that is, in 1992, an expert committee constituted by the Centre in collaboration with World Health Organization (WHO) stressed and recommended a Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP). International agencies like the World Bank extended financial assistance for the success of various schemes and programmes. So, TB which resurfaced during the time and attracted worldwide attention became a challenge to the medical scientists who took no pain in once again eliminating it. Nevertheless, during the 1990s, the price paid in the form of suffering and loss of human lives throughout the world especially in India and some Afro-Asian countries was insurmountable. The bacteria that were supposed to die out totally was instead lying dormant for many years unknown and undetected until it resurged again and that too during the Covid pandemic.
Experts were able to diagnose the reasons for the alarming reappearance of tuberculosis in the country. During the last two years — 2020-21 — at the peak of pandemic, many people could not lead normal life; irregular sleep patterns, improper timing for food or even skipping of breakfast, loss of appetite, lack of outdoor exercises, devoid of social contact, etc. being confined indoor for days deprived them of proper ventilation and clean, fresh air. In brief, the pandemic period lasting for quite a long time worried health experts who found out that India became a victim to TB infecting over 35-50 crore citizens with an increase of 26 lakh people annually. March 24 is globally observed as World Tuberculosis Day every year to create awareness so that people need not worry much as the disease is curable. WHO has warned everyone about the impending danger that affects more than four million people globally. The pandemic has cancelled the gains made so far due to diversion of attention which ought to be rectified. People have to keep in mind that worries and tensions cause many diseases and hence must cultivate good habits in order to be healthy.