Mkg: ‘Community participation can fill gaps to eliminate TB’

Mokokchung, March 24 (MExN): Mokokchung observed World TB Day under the theme ‘yes! We can end TB’ at Conference hall, CMO office Mokokchung on March 24. 

During a brief programme organised by National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP), DTC Mokokchung Longtiba L Sangtam, SDO (Civil) stated that TB is not a new disease which still exist but not so common. He stated that a TB patient who is economically dependent can be easily treated and cured whereas patients from the weaker sections of the society cannot afford to go for treatment or in some cases cannot complete the treatment due to the fact that TB treatment includes not only medicines but nutritional support too, a press release from the CMO office Mokokchung stated. 

‘Government and department alone cannot achieve the aim in eliminating TB but community participation through NGOs, church, individuals and civil societies can fill the gaps,’ he urged. While speaking on Nikshay Mitra, he called upon the audience to adopt TB patients.

While delivering the significance of the day Dr Toshila Jamir, DTO Mokokchung said that World TB Day provides platform for affected person and communities, civil societies, health care providers, policy makers, housing and sanitation compounded by other factors such as Tobacco and Alcohol use, Diabetes and Immuno compromised person affect vulnerability to TB and access care. She brought to light the urgency of reducing stigma in relation to TB, generate more efficient awareness to reach the community and called for community participation to end TB.

TB Champions, Lanurenla and Aosungkum shared their testimony on successfully recovering from TB.

The programme was chaired by Dr P Medemmayang, SMO (DRTB), welcome address was delivered by Dr Limatula Aier, CMO Mokokchung and invocation by Yanglu Pongen, Associate Pastor, MTBA.