Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant public health challenge in India, home to the highest number of TB cases globally – about 25% of the global TB burden. Each year, over 2.7 million people in India are diagnosed with TB, predominantly affecting marginalised and economically disadvantaged groups, including migrants and those in overcrowded environments.

In response to the TB crisis, especially in tribal areas, ACT For Health collaborated with Basic Health Service (BHS), a non-profit organisation dedicated to providing comprehensive healthcare in remote regions. BHS serves vulnerable tribal communities through its primary care clinics located in tribal regions of Rajasthan. Their decade-long work has underscored the high TB risk groups among migrant workers, who are more susceptible due to poor living conditions, nutrition, and hygiene. A significant challenge in addressing TB is the lack of availability of diagnostic tools like chest radiography, sputum tests, and the cartridge-based nucleic acid amplification test (CBNAAT) in underserved regions.

To combat these challenges, ACT collaborated with BHS to help equip Public Health Centers (PHC) and primary care clinics with X-ray machines and cassette readers to bolster their diagnostic capabilities. X-ray imaging plays a pivotal role in the fight against TB. It especially proves to be vital in low-resourced settings where advanced testing is not available, significantly aiding in the early detection and management of TB. The grant led to the successful treatment and management of over 7,000 TB patients within a year and helped reduce the costs and time for diagnosis and treatment. 

Recognizing the need for X-rays as an essential primary care imaging solution, ACT for Health is renewing its support to BHS for the deployment of mobile cassette readers (CR), also known as an X-ray detector, at their primary care clinics. The availability of a mobile CR machine will allow BHS to serve multiple clinics more efficiently, ultimately enhancing their ability to serve a greater number of patients by reducing overall turnaround time. We’re excited to support BHS in decreasing loss-to-follow-up rates and ensuring swift diagnosis and treatment, thus increasing BHS’s capacity to serve more patients and improve health outcomes significantly in these communities!