The 3rd Kohima District TB Forum meeting was held at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office, Kohima on May 5.
Kohima, May 7 (MExN): The 3rd Kohima District TB Forum on May 5 discussed modalities for effective implementation of National Tuberculosis Elimination programme (NTEP) during its meeting chaired by Deputy Commissioner and Chairperson of the forum Gregory Thejawelie.
According to a press release from the District TB Forum, the Chairperson informed that sensitization and awareness programs for TB along with testing has been an ongoing activity with special focus in the Health and Wellness Centers and remote villages. He also stated that HIV test is also done whenever sputum testing takes place, while informing that a new digital X-ray machine has been provided to DTC by the Central TB Division. Installation of the machine is awaited, the updates added.
The Kohima District TB Officer elaborated on India’s commitment to end TB by 2025, and underscored that health systems need the participation of the community, in its fight against TB. She also said the awareness on the availability of TB services under the programme should reach everyone.
Similarly, WHO Consultant Dr Collins stated that the missing cases have increased in both the national and state levels during the pandemic time, and emphasised on the importance of community participation to reach the target. Moreover, there is need to increase the uptake of preventive treatment for TB for PLHIVs in order to decrease the rate of co-infection among them, it stated.
DPO, DAPCU SentimonglaTzudir shared about the increase in HIV positivity in the last financial year and requested for more platforms where awareness on HIV/AIDS along with voluntary testing can be done.
As a result of the meeting, the house decided to focus on sensitizing elected representatives of the district on TB and HIV through the district planning and development board (DPDB) platform to build stronger political and administrative commitment. A similar approach would be taken in rural areas by joining hands with the RD department to create awareness, the release stated.
For urban areas, co-ordination with the different wards would be prioritized and TB programme staff can be called for sensitization whenever any such meetings are held with the DC office, it added.
Additionally, it emphasised that the Poshan Abhiyan scheme under the Social Welfare department can be included so that avenues for nutritional benefits to TB patients can be looked into, and service uptake can be increased.
Sensitization on TB during the Nasha Mukht Abhiyan programmes in the district was also discussed during the meeting.
Further, to have equal participation with women, the Department of Women Development and Nagaland State Commission for Women were requested to include TB sensitization and awareness programmes in any of their activities, the release stated.
