NEW DELHI: Conceding that the closed setting and crowded areas in prisons tend to make them a breeding ground for tuberculosis (TB) transmission, the home ministry has written to all states and UTs to take up screening of all prisoners and prisons staff for the disease and spread awareness about its prevention, symptoms and cure.
The special anti-TB drive across the country’s jails is to be undertaken as part of the Government of India’s ongoing 100-day intensified campaign on TB elimination. The campaign, launched on Dec 7, 2024, is a nationwide initiative to improve public health by eliminating TB, resulting in reduction in mortality rates.
In a letter sent on Tuesday to the principal secretary (home) and prison heads of all states and UTs, the ministry of home affairs (MHA) said TB is a significant public health concern in the prisons “as the closed setting and crowded areas in the prisons have the potential/ risk of becoming a breeding ground for TB transmission, exacerbating the burden of the disease within incarcerated populations and posing a risk to public health upon prisoners’ release and also during their periodic interaction with their visitors”. It conceded that inadequate screening and lack of awareness were seen as the key challenges in controlling TB inside prisons.
Advising the states on measures to effectively control and curb the prevalence of TB inside prisons, the ministry asked them to organise screening camps (Nikshay Shivir) in all prisons between Feb 3 and Feb 15. The screening, it said, should cover all prison inmates and be carried out in consultation with the health department and TB officers of the state/UT and district concerned.
The advisory further said the prison inmates should be administered the Ni-kshay shapath (pledge) during the period January 27 to February 2, prior to start of the screening camps.
To spread awareness about the disease, the prison authorities have been asked to display information, education and communication material on TN in all prisons/ offices and organisations. The awareness generation should also cover the staff in all prisons and correctional institutions.
The MHA letter has attached the anti-TB campaign plan along with the guidelines and details of district TB officers issued by the ministry of health and family welfare.
“States/UTs are requested to get in touch with the district TB officers for organising the screening camps in the prisons and getting IEC materials for display inside prisons,” said MHA.
The ministry further said the active indulgence of prison authorities in the special campaign is expected to contribute substantially in TB control efforts. “All States and UTs are therefore requested to engage the prison authorities in taking active steps for comprehensive screening of prisoners inmates as well as prison officers and for generating awareness about tuberculosis in the prisons which can contribute towards elimination of TB,” it stated.
