KMC trains health workers on COPD awareness

Kolkata: The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) along with national Asthma Allergy Bronchitis Institute and Public Health Foundation of India are giving training to health workers to create awareness on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder ( COPD).

This is for the first time when such training is given to the health workers. COPD and Asthma are on the rise in the city and awareness is required to prevent spread of the disease.

The employees will have to undergo an eight month course. They will have to sit for an examination and the successful candidates will be given certificates.

Dr AG Ghosal, former director of NAABI said the course is divided into eight modules. Before the commencement of the module, the trainees will have to sit for an exam of the previous module.

During the programme, the trainees are given a thorough knowledge of COPD and about the awareness drive. The health workers will also be trained on the operation of Spiro meter to conduct Lung Function Test (LFT).

The KMC has health units in every borough which are manned by experienced medical practitioners.

The treatment is free. Senior civic officials said as the KMC offers free treatment people particularly those from affluent families do not come to the KMC clinics. This is true in case of blood tests for Malaria and Dengue.

Though KMC has the best of technicians and doctors who are experts in treating Dengue and Malaria and there are health centres to collect blood samples in every ward many people just do not come as treatment is free. Those who come to the KMC clinics can undergo LFT free of cost. "This will help to bring down the number of COPD cases in the long run," Dr Ghosal said.