190 workers screened at TB camp at under-construction airport terminal

Varanasi: A special health camp was organised on Wednesday at the under-construction terminal site of Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport as part of the state govt’s 100-day Special TB Patient Detection Campaign.

The camp was set up at the site operated by Ahluwalia Contracts, where a large number of construction workers underwent health screening. Doctors conducted general health examinations and distributed essential medicines among workers. Blood pressure, blood sugar and haemoglobin tests were also carried out during the camp. A key highlight of the programme was TB screening through an AI-enabled handheld X-ray machine. Health officials said the advanced portable machine can conduct TB screening in less than a minute, significantly improving the speed and efficiency of detection.

According to the health department, the objective of the camp was to ensure timely identification of health problems among labourers engaged in construction activities and provide immediate medical assistance wherever required.

Officials said that with the cooperation of the airport administration, Ahluwalia Construction, workers and security staff, around 190 people have been screened so far.

During the screening drive, five sputum samples were also collected for NAAT testing. Authorities said that if tuberculosis is confirmed in any case, the patient would immediately be brought under treatment and regular monitoring.

The medical team from the Badagaon PHC remained present at the site with medicines and testing facilities.

The camp was inspected by state TB officer Dr Rishi Saxena in the presence of district TB officer Dr Piyush Rai and airport administration representative Jeetesh.

Chief medical officer Dr Rajesh Prasad said that from next week, similar special health and TB screening camps would also be organised in different parts of the district.