Kohima, June 28 (MExN): Nagaland has achieved 90% cure rate and 85% detection rate under the Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP) which is considered as one of the best performing states in the country. The goal of RNTCP is to decrease mortality and morbidity rates due to TB and cut transmission of infection until TB ceases to be a major public health problem.
India has the highest number of active TB cases in the world. Every 3 minutes, 2 persons die of TB in India, source said adding TB costs India Rs. 12,000 crore annually. Further, Under National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Programme (NIDDCP), the department of Health & Family Welfare has brought down iodine deficiency disorders to 1.0% in 2008.
NIDDCP is a 100% Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) implemented in the state through its IDD cell. Nagaland was declared one of the IDD endemic states in India with a prevalence rate of 33.4% through a baseline survey in the early 1960s. State IDD cell was established in 1987 and since then IEC activities for creating awareness on the consequences of IDDs and also the importance of consuming iodised salt were conducted.
Sources said a random survey has shown the prevalence rate of only 1% in the state which showed a dramatic improvement of IDD situation in Nagaland.
