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perform the duties of tuberculosis Health Visitor. In some Provinces and States
educated girls who have passed the matriculation examination may be given a short
specialised course of training at a central well-organised dispensary and when con-
sidered qualified may be posted as Health Visitors. In other places it may be
found necessary to utilise men for this work and Sub-Assistant Surgeons, Sanitary
Inspectors or even exceptionally efficient Dispensers or Dressers may be employed.
In any case it seems desirable to observe the principle of having a uniform rate of
pay in each Provincial or State Area for any person performing the duties of a
Tuberculosis Health Visitor.
(4) Care and Aftercare Committees.—These should be organised on a voluntary
basis in connection with all Tuberculosis Dispensaries and should consist of non-
officials and officials. The Committee meets at the dispensary where the circum-
stances and difficulties of patients requiring aid are explained. Each case is con-
sidered on its merits, given financial assistance if required, and where desirable,
helped to find suitable employment. Without such Committees, composed of mem-
bers who are familiar with the life and difficulties of patients and their families the
work of a Tuberculosis Dispensary is seriously hampered and its scope restricted.
(5) Training of Tuberculosis Staff.—The success of all efforts to deal with the
problem will depend on the provision of an efficient and sympathetic body of workers.
The establishment of suitable training centres for doctors, health visitors, and mem-
bers of care committees should therefore be accepted as an important function both
for the Central and for the Provincial organisations.
The training should be undertaken at Provincial and State Centres in major
Provinces and States, while smaller units should look to their adjoining large neigh-
bours or to the central organisation for help in this respect.
(6)Hospitals and Sanatoria.—The removal of the infective case from close contact
with his family and associates is one of the most effective measures for preventing the
spread of the disease. Unfortunately it is expensive. For cases requiring pro-
longed treatment in bed accommodation arranged on- a District basis is advisable,
tuberculosis wards in existing hospitals being constructed for the purpose.
A large city may maintain its own Tuberculosis Sanatorium or combined insti-
tution comprising hospital and sanatorium with, an after care organisation, but
generally sanatoria should be organised on a' State or Provincial or even on divisional
basis. It is desirable that all these institutions should be of a simple type of con-
struction.
In some areas, the establishment of tuberculosis colonies adapted to Indian con-
ditions may be possible.
(7) Preventorium Methods.—The value of open air schools in combating tuber-
culosis is proved and any steps in this direction are of value. Similarly the establish-
ment of play grounds and open air shelters are of help in the campaign.
(8) Co-operation.—The Central and the Provincial and State Associations will require
to co-operate closely with all organisations, official and non-official, interested in the
Tuberculosis problem. Government Departments such as the "Medical" and "Public
Health" are most closely concerned and a great deal of the actual work will be
carried out by and through them. The Education Department and official agencies
for Development and Rural Reconstruction should also be consulted. Among volun-
tary agencies the Red Cross Society, St. John Ambulance Association and Maternity
and Child Welfare organizations are interested and have been carrying out active
Tuberculosis work in a number of areas. Charitable and social organisations which
are concerned in any way with the problem should be approached to help. The best
way to link up all these bodies is to appoint representatives from them on the Council
of the Association.
It should be remembered that the success of all tuberculosis measures will depend
on obtaining the co-operation of the entire medical profession, especially the general
practitioner.