Surveys, B.C.G., Social Insurance and Health Card as Part of the Tuberculosis Control in Asuncion, Paraguay

¹ Professor of Internal Pathology, Director of the Health Institute Control for Individuals and Communities, Head of the Prophylaxis and Epidemic Section of the Asuncion Tuberculosis Department.

A Health Institute for Individuals and Communities has been established in Asuncion to provide health cards to all persons who carry out their part in the communal activities by means of their trade or profession. In order to obtain the health card, each person pays Gs. 2 ($.60) and undergoes an x-ray examination, a chest examination, a tuberculin test and examination of the skin and mucous membranes. B.C.G. vaccination is given to the tuberculin non-reactors.

Through these examinations we screen out the pulmonary, cardiac, venereal and leprosy cases. The card is not issued to people with other contagious diseases; such as, tuberculosis, syphilis in its contagious stage, leprosy, etc. In this way many people have learned for the first time that they were victims of such diseases and have promptly been treated for their respective ailments. This quick intervention and the consequent control that we exercise over the patients has allowed them to avoid what might eventually have led to irreparable damage to their health.

The Abreu method which is used is perhaps rather more expensive than the fluoroscope method but has proven to be highly superior in the number of pulmonary cases it has brought to light. The importance of the Health Card is, therefore, herewith explained.