DOST Model’ for DR-TB Patients, New Delhi: Perspectives of Healthcare Providers

Introduction: In India, tuberculosis continues to be a major public health problem and there is a growing concern about drug-resistant tuberculosis as most of the patients are from private sector. The National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) in collaboration with TB Alert, India (TBAI) and Clinton Health Association of India (CHAI) had implemented a collaborative project to strengthen the network between the private practitioners and public healthcare facilities in New Delhi during 2019 and 2020. Methods: A study was conducted to understand the enablers and challenges encountered by them during the implementation of the project. This is a qualitative exploration of the “healthcare providers” on a project linking DR-TB patients in private sector with government health facilities. The process of data collection involved face-to-face in-depth interviews of healthcare providers, the Doctors mainly from private and public health facilities, the paramedical workers from general health system and paramedical from the project using an interview guide administered through a trained researcher. Results: The study findings revealed that all healthcare providers were completely aware of the DOST project in the health system, the model led to early diagnosis and initiation of quality treatment. There were no major challenges to the implementation of the project. The healthcare providers wish to have this project implemented for a longer duration. Conclusion: The perspectives of healthcare providers towards the “DOST” project were optimistic and call for re-initiating the project in the area.

Heterogeneous numerical modelling for the auto thermal reforming of crude glycerol in a fixed bed reactor

A mathematical model for the catalytic autothermal reforming(ATR)reaction of synthetic crude glycerol to hydrogen in a fixed bed tubular reactor(FBTR)and over an in-house developed metal oxide catalyst is presented in this work.The heterogeneous model equations account for a two-phase system of solid catalyst and bulk feed gas.Also,the ATR of crude glycerol reaction scheme and intrinsic kinetic rate model over an active,selective,and stable nickel-based catalyst were integrated in the developed model.Also,the model was validated using experimental data generated in our labs for the ATR of synthetic crude glycerol.The modelling results adequately described the detailed gas product composition and distribution,temperature profiles,and conversion propagation in the axial direction of the fixed bed reactor over a wide range of reaction temperature(773–923 K)and mass-time(12.71–158.23 g cat·min·(mol C)^(-1)).The crude glycerol conversion predicted with the model showing a close resemblance to those obtained experimentally with an average absolute deviation(AAD)of less than 8%.The maximum crude glycerol conversion and hydrogen yield were found to be 92%and 3 mol hydrogen/mol crude glycerol,respectively.Also,the gas product concentration profile in the reactor was adequately described(90%)accuracy with a hydrogen concentration of 39%(volume).