CHENNAI: When it comes to accountability over health issues, especially tuberculosis, our Members of Parliament (MPs) are conveniently unavailable, appallingly ignorant and always, ‘too busy’ to talk.
At least that is what the Global Health Advocates, a Pune-based NGO and the Indian Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (INP +) found out when they launched a countrywide campaign to measure political will to eradicate the disease. Started in March, the campaign is intended to coincide with the elections to find out how much each MP has done to combat tuberculosis in his or her constituency.
“There was a singular lack of response from the MPs when it came to accountability on health issues. Across states, in Delhi, Gujarat, Orissa and parts of Madhya Pradesh, we had no response from the MPs on a disease that kills 1,000 people a day,’’ said Dr Bobby John, president of the Global Health Advocates. In partnership with the INP +, the survey will cover 300 districts in 20 States where INP+ has district offices and attempt to form a baseline study, which will then be used to review results on the ground.
“Up until now, we have always held appointed officials, such as the district health officer or State TB officer, responsible for the lack of implementation of a programme. But now we thought it was time to see what the elected representatives do,’’ Dr John said. K K Abraham, president of INP+, Chennai, said they hoped to interview MPs in Tamil Nadu sometime next week. “We have already prepared the questionnaire and tested it out. In finding out how much the MP has done about the TB problem, we will focus on three key areas: the drugs available for multi-drug resistant TB, diagnosis of the disease, especially in people living with HIV/AIDS, and involvement of the community in advocacy and treatment to combat the disease,’’ he said.
While data, reportage and programmes are available in plenty, it is political will, the most important factor in combating the disease, that seems to be missing, rued Dr Jindal. “If this is the response we get during election time when every MP is eager to talk about their achievements, it will only be worse at other times of the year,’’ he said.