Review meeting of the service providers held at the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare, Kohima on November 12.
Kohima, November 13 (MExN): The National Strategic Plan (NSP) for 2017 to 2025 of the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) intends to extend the umbrella of high-quality TB care and control to include those treated in the private sector. Over the last few decades, the programme has learnt a great deal of insights in working with the private sector. Yet there still exist enormous untapped potential for collaborating with the private sector innovatively for programme effectiveness, based on the lessons of working with private sector.
This was pointed out by the Mission Director, NHM Dr Akuo Sorhie during the review meeting of the service providers consisting of NGOs, private providers etc cum private sector engagement in Na
In her opening remark, Dr Vezokholu Theyo, State TB Officer (NTEP) Directorate of Health & Family Welfare, Nagaland appreciated the efforts of the service providers working in different Districts under various schemes like Sputum Collection and Transport, ACSM (Advocacy Communication and Social Mobilization), ACF (Active Case Finding), Public Health Action and Treatment and Diagnostic Centre.
They are engaged under the NTEP to assist the programme reach the unreached and provide necessary services to the community at large. Presentations were made by all the service providers and their yearly performances based on different indicators was evaluated and apprised.
A Gazette Notification on TB dated 16th March 2018 mandates all healthcare providers to notify every TB case diagnosed and/or treated, to local authorities.” The private notification of TB cases under the State contributes to around 15-20% each year. For notification and reporting of outcome, a private practitioner gets an incentive of Rs 1000 (Rs 500 for Notification and Rs 500 for reporting of outcome. FDCs (Fixed Drugs Combination), anti TB drugs can also be kept in private health facilities with an option to avail free medicines to TB patients.
With the task of TB Elimination by 2025 inching closer, various key strategies need to be adopted such as upfront NAAT testing, expanding the bracket of presumptive TB cases, advocating for TB Free villages etc. This was stated during the presentation made by Temjenochetla Ao State PPM Coordinator.
In her closing remarks, Dr Apichetla Amer urged all the health workers and service provider to work in close tandem so that quality of service is not compromised.
Thungchanbeni Humtsoe, State IEC Officer chaired the meeting which was well attended by all the District TB Officers, PPM Coordinators, WHO Consultant, Dr Collins Z Sono, Representatives from ARK Foundation, Thera Welfare Society, SOWSORD, Frontier Development Society, Chavara Home, KNP+, Yingli Mission, Legacy Explorer and Staff of State TB Cell.
