Chhattisgarh, Puducherry cut TB deaths with cash, early nutrition support (4 to 5 times higher chance of mortality due to severe undernutrition: Studies), Pg14

Key Highlights:

• Chhattisgarh and Puducherry are prioritizing early nutritional support for undernourished tuberculosis (TB) patients through direct cash transfers and food baskets.
• Chhattisgarh provides Rs 1,000 through direct benefit transfer (DBT) and a food basket to severely undernourished TB patients.
• Puducherry prioritizes TB patients with a BMI less than 18.5, those with drug-resistant TB, and those living below the poverty line, providing them with nutrition baskets.
• Studies indicate that severely undernourished TB patients have a four to five times higher mortality rate, emphasizing the need for early nutritional intervention.

Detailed Insights:

• The national program for TB elimination provides nutritional support, but the process can take months, prompting Chhattisgarh and Puducherry to prioritize immediate support for the most at-risk patients.
• Chhattisgarh issued an order in December to identify and prioritize nutritional support for severely undernourished (BMI below 16) and very severely undernourished (BMI below 14) TB patients.
• Chhattisgarh aims to report the number of TB patients with BMI less than 14 and those under 16, ensuring they receive food baskets and Rs 1,000 nutritional support within the first month of diagnosis.
• Puducherry has created a buffer stock of donated nutrition baskets to provide immediate support to prioritized patients upon diagnosis, improving treatment outcomes and patient well-being.
• A study in Puducherry between 2023 and 2024 revealed that only 49% of TB patients received at least three food baskets during the treatment period, with an average delay of 41 days before receiving the first basket.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Tuberculosis (TB): An infectious disease caused by bacteria that typically affects the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body.
• Body Mass Index (BMI): A measure of body fat based on height and weight, used to classify individuals as underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese.
• Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT): A mechanism to transfer subsidies directly into the bank accounts of beneficiaries, ensuring transparency and reducing leakages.