The numbers reflect the extent of risk the hospital staff is exposed to and the appalling working conditions at BMC's dedicated 1,200-bed TB hospital. Until last year, many TB-afflicted staffers had no option but work as they had exhausted their leaves.
An employee from the civic-run TB hospital in Sewri succumbed to the disease last week. In the past six years, 26 staffers from the hospital have died due to the bacterial infection. Currently, 31 hospital employees are under treatment for tuberculosis.
The numbers reflect the extent of risk the hospital staff is exposed to and the appalling working conditions at BMC's dedicated 1,200-bed TB hospital. Until last year, many TB-afflicted staffers had no option but work as they had exhausted their leaves.
The deceased staffer has been identified as Sachin Jagtap.
Alarmed at the loss of their own members, authorities said they are taking preventive measures to ensure safety of the hospital staff. According to standard protocol, employees should wear N-95 mask on the hospital premises. Also, the administration is required to provide all employees healthy snacks, including eggs, milk and bananas, every day.
According to World Health Organisation, multi-drug resistance strain of TB is a major public health problem that threatens progresses made in TB care and control worldwide. Drug resistance arises due to improper use of antibiotics in chemotherapy of drug-susceptible TB patients.
Only last year did BMC think of revising its leave policy for Sewri TB Hospital employees. "We have issued instructions to the hospital management that workers can go on leave until they get completely cured. The notification is going through procedural delays. I will have to see how far it has progressed," said Sanjay Deshmukh, additional commissioner (health), BMC.
Dr Rajendra Nanavare, medical superintendent, he said, "We have set up an infection control society where we rope in experts from outside. Also, all the treatment we provide are completely free and all the 31 employees are on medical leave. Till they get cured from TB, we will allow them to be on medical leave."
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