Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai
Mumbai, Sep 21: In the congested lanes of Govandi, Mumbai, tuberculosis (TB) continues to wreak havoc, claiming lives and livelihoods in cramped homes made of tarpaulin and salvaged wood. Doctors estimate that almost every second household here has been touched by the deadly disease.
India accounts for 27% of global TB cases, with an average of two deaths every three minutes, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Despite the government’s pledge to eliminate TB by 2025, experts warn that gaps in healthcare infrastructure and socioeconomic barriers make this goal increasingly unattainable.
Mehboob Sheikh, diagnosed with TB six months ago, has lost his job due to debilitating fatigue. “I have lost a lot of weight, I can barely walk now, and I get breathless if I speak,” he shared. His children, malnourished and vulnerable, depend entirely on him as he struggles to pay school fees.
Experts say India’s TB crisis is fueled by dense populations, poverty, and systemic healthcare shortcomings. Dr. Lancelot Pinto, a respiratory specialist, stated, “We do not necessarily have all the resources in place to scale up and eliminate TB by 2025.” Many areas still rely on outdated sputum microscopy for diagnosis, leaving countless cases undetected and allowing drug-resistant strains to spread.
Health worker Pramila Pramod, who has served Govandi for a decade, said that fear of social stigma drives many families to hide diagnoses. “Sometimes there is a young girl of marriageable age. Her parents won’t tell anyone she has TB. How will they find a boy for her otherwise?” she explained.
The government has ramped up efforts with free testing and treatment, and India has reduced TB cases by 17.7% since 2015. However, challenges like staff shortages, poor mapping in high-risk areas, and the COVID-19 pandemic disrupting services continue to hinder progress.
Innovations like AI-powered portable X-ray machines are helping bridge gaps, allowing health workers to screen vulnerable populations in slums and remote areas. “These machines weigh less than 3.5 kilos and can be carried in a backpack,” said Dr. Shibu Vijayan of Qure.ai. Nearly 5 million X-rays have already been conducted using such devices.
Despite these technological advancements, for patients like Sheikh, daily survival remains a struggle. He continues his government-provided treatment but has yet to receive the monthly cash assistance he is entitled to. “No one has come to help us. I have no money left. I have to support and feed myself while I am alive,” he said.
As India races against time to meet its TB elimination target, the stories of those in slums like Govandi highlight the urgent need for stronger healthcare delivery, social support, and sustained attention to the nation’s most vulnerable populations.