Both Anti TB Drugs and Anti Retroviral drugs will be dispensed from ART centre
Kohima, October 24 (MExN): TB HIV co infected patients will be getting single window services from the ART centre under the coordination mechanism of RNTCP &NACP. Both Anti TB Drugs and Anti Retroviral drugs will be dispensed from there once TB is diagnosed with the help of rapid TB diagnostics like CBNAAT (Xpert MTB Rif) among PLHIVS. The Anti TB Drugs (ATD) will be daily and for the first time in Fixed Dose Combinations (FDC). The ART centre will utilize 3I’s strategy that includes intensified case finding, Infection control, INH prevention therapy to reduce TB among PLHIVS.
This was informed during the Revised National TB Control Programme two day training on Daily Anti TB Treatment and 3Is (ICF, IPT, AIC) strategy under TB-HIV collaborative activities conducted on October 19 and 20 at Directorate of Health &Family Welfare Nagaland, Kohima. The trainees included all the District TB Officers, DOTs Plus Supervisors, and State TB Cell Staff. Dr Silajit Sarkar, WHO NE Consultant was the key resource person.
Dr KT Lotha, State TB Officer (RNTCP), Directorate of Health & Family Welfare in a press release also stated that directly observed treatment is always the cornerstone of successful RNTCP implementation. To make it more intensive and for more real time monitoring, use of information communication technology is done. 99 DOTS is one of such technology where the patient has to give a missed call after taking out the desired doses.
Some of the topics that were covered during the Training included Rationale for moving to Daily Regimen and Basics of Daily ATT, Adverse Drugs Reaction & Drug – Drug Interaction, Recording & Reporting Tools, Monitoring & Evaluation of TB-HIV Collaborative activities etc.
Dr K.T Lotha, the State TB Officer in his concluding speech stressed on the importance of the said Training and the District TB Officers to conduct the same Training with all the remaining District Staff. He reminded the DTOs to make an Action Plan for transport of Sputum Samples esp. of the Co- infected patients to the CB NAAT sites which are currently functional at Kohima, Dimapur, Mokokchung and Mon.
