Dimapur, August 8 (MExN): The 2nd Quarterly Review Meeting of the Revised National TB Control Programme was held on August 5 at the Directorate of Health & Family Welfare, Conference Hall. The State TB Officer, Dr KT Lotha chaired the programme. He gave a brief picture about the plans to scale up the DOTS Plus Services in Nagaland for treatment of MDR TB cases which is underway. For this purpose, two DOTS Plus Sites will be set up at Khuzama and Mokokchung in two phases by December 2011 and April 2012 respectively.
A press note issued by Dr KT Lotha, State TB Officer, Revised National TB Control Programme stated that in the 1st phase, the districts of Dimapur, Kohima, Peren, Phek, Kiphire and Wokha will refer MDR patients to Khuzama, and in the next phase, the remaining five districts will refer patients to Mokokchung. It maybe be mentioned here that the DOTS plus Sites are facilities where Multi Drug Resistant (MDR) TB patients will be admitted for a short period (7-15 days) where extensive investigation and initiation of treatment will be done. The patient will then be sent back to their respective Districts where they will continue to undergo the treatment. All investigation and treatment will be free of cost.
Earlier in the meeting, Dr John Sweyievisa, Joint Director, DH & FW made the opening remark where he lauded the District Staff of the programme who were working tirelessly in the far flung areas of the State, while he also expressed his concern about some of them who were not working as expected. Dr Shankar Dapkekar, the North East Consultant of RNTCP gave a presentation on the State performance during the Quarter. This Quarter, Nagaland achieved a decent Case Detection Rate (CDR) of 81% while the Cure Rate (CR) was 89%. He also put up certain challenges before the house which needed to be addressed. This included scaling up the CDR and CR to 90% from the present National target of 70% and 85% respectively. He also raised the issue of MDR TB which is a result of poor adherence to basic DOTS and irrational and irregular use of Anti TB drugs. He also stressed the importance of improving cross referral TB HIV activities.
Dr. Rose Chakhesang, HIV TB Consultant (NSACS) in his closing remark encouraged the programme to enhance the linkage between RNTCP and NSACS. He also requested the District TB Officers (DTOS) to continue with the DCC (District Coordination Meeting) and the monthly meetings with the National Aids Control Programme staff. Dr KT Lotha also thanked all the officers and staff of the district and State TB Control Society who were present in the meeting.
A press note issued by Dr KT Lotha, State TB Officer, Revised National TB Control Programme stated that in the 1st phase, the districts of Dimapur, Kohima, Peren, Phek, Kiphire and Wokha will refer MDR patients to Khuzama, and in the next phase, the remaining five districts will refer patients to Mokokchung. It maybe be mentioned here that the DOTS plus Sites are facilities where Multi Drug Resistant (MDR) TB patients will be admitted for a short period (7-15 days) where extensive investigation and initiation of treatment will be done. The patient will then be sent back to their respective Districts where they will continue to undergo the treatment. All investigation and treatment will be free of cost.
Earlier in the meeting, Dr John Sweyievisa, Joint Director, DH & FW made the opening remark where he lauded the District Staff of the programme who were working tirelessly in the far flung areas of the State, while he also expressed his concern about some of them who were not working as expected. Dr Shankar Dapkekar, the North East Consultant of RNTCP gave a presentation on the State performance during the Quarter. This Quarter, Nagaland achieved a decent Case Detection Rate (CDR) of 81% while the Cure Rate (CR) was 89%. He also put up certain challenges before the house which needed to be addressed. This included scaling up the CDR and CR to 90% from the present National target of 70% and 85% respectively. He also raised the issue of MDR TB which is a result of poor adherence to basic DOTS and irrational and irregular use of Anti TB drugs. He also stressed the importance of improving cross referral TB HIV activities.
Dr. Rose Chakhesang, HIV TB Consultant (NSACS) in his closing remark encouraged the programme to enhance the linkage between RNTCP and NSACS. He also requested the District TB Officers (DTOS) to continue with the DCC (District Coordination Meeting) and the monthly meetings with the National Aids Control Programme staff. Dr KT Lotha also thanked all the officers and staff of the district and State TB Control Society who were present in the meeting.
