Mokokchung, 24 March (MTNews): World TB Day provides platform for affected persons and communities, civil society, healthcare providers, policy makers, housing and sanitation compounded by other factors such as tobacco and alcohol use, diabetes and immune-compromised persons affect vulnerability to TB and access care, Dr Toshila Jamir, DTO Mokokchung said.
“In India more than 41% of the population is infected with TB. It kills approximately 4 lakh people in India every year,” she said during the World Tuberculosis Day celebration in Mokokchung under the theme “YES! WE CAN END TB” at the Conference hall, Office of the Chief Medical Officer Mokokchung.
She stated that the Government of India is dedicated to eradicating tuberculosis by 2025 and emphasized India’s extraordinary progress in tuberculosis control over the last decade.
“More than 90 million people have been tested, more than 19 million TB patients have been detected and treated, and millions of lives have been saved as a result of the RNTCP’s efforts,” she said, urging people to reduce TB stigma, generate more efficient community awareness, and call for community participation to end TB.
DTC Mokokchung Longtiba L Sangtam, SDO (Civil), National TB Elimination Program (NTEP), also stated that TB is not a new disease, although it does exist and is less common.
He also stated that a TB patient who is economically independent can be easily treated and cured, whereas patients from the poorer sections of society cannot afford to go for treatment or, in some cases, cannot complete treatment because TB treatment includes not only medicines but also nutritional support.
He also claimed that the government and department alone would not be able to fulfill the goal of eliminating tuberculosis, but community engagement through NGOs, churches, individuals, and civil societies will be able to fill the gaps. During his speech on Nikshay Mitra, he encouraged the crowd to adopt tuberculosis victims.
Lanurenla and Aosungkum, TB Champions, presented their stories of surviving TB.
The program was chaired by Dr P Medemmayang, SMO (DRTB) with Dr Limatula Aier, CMO Mokokchung delivering the welcoming address and Yanglu Pongen, Associate Pastor, MTBA delivering the invocation.
Meanwhile, Peren also observed World TB day across the district in all the 18 Health and Wellness Centres and 3 Microscopic Centres, Tening CHC, Ahthibung PHC and Heningkunglwa PHC.
The main function was held at Bongkolong village in collaboration with ISRN Peren unit.
Dr Keholi Sema, DTO, Peren gave a keynote address about the significance of the day.
Awareness campaigns and screening of symptomatic patients were conducted during the day at all the 18 HWC’s centres. Awareness campaign was also held at Bongkolong Government High School.
Free IEC materials were distributed during the observance.
The program was attended by Dr. Keholi Sema, DTO, Dr. Viholi, ZLO, ISRN, stakeholders and medical fraternity.
The Directorate of Health & Family Welfare Kohima under the theme, “Yes We Can End TB” also observed World TB day with Kikheto Sema, IAS, Commissioner & Secretary cum Chairman, Executive Committee NHM as the special guest.
Kikheto, while exhorting the gathering, said that TB remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious killers, and the Global efforts to combat TB have saved an estimated 66 million lives since the year 2000.
The year 2030 is the deadline fixed for eliminating TB across the world but India has committed to ending TB by 2025, Sema said, adding it is 5 years ahead of the world with the clarion call given by the Prime Minister of India at the “Delhi End TB Summit” on 13 March 2018.
He further added that with the involvement and support of line departments such as Administration, Municipality, Social Welfare, Rural Development, Labour, Tribal Affairs, IPR, Churches, NGOs, Private Practitioners, Families, and Individuals will further strengthen the program initiatives and in eradicating TB.