Kohima: World TB Day observed on March 24 of every year is designed to create public awareness that tuberculosis remains an epidemic, according to a press release issued by State TB Cell, RNTCP, Directorate of Health & Family Welfare. This year’s theme is “Reach the three million - Find, treat and cure TB.” Of the nine million people who get sick with TB, a third of them do not get the TB services they deserve, it said. Many of these three million people live in the world’s poorest, most vulnerable communities and include groups such as migrants, miners, drug users and sex workers.
37,591 TB patients have been put on treatment: State TB Cell
Expressing that no one should be left behind in the fight against TB, State TB Cell stated this year’s theme focuses on the three million people who are missed by health systems globally since “our” current efforts to find, treat and cure everyone who gets ill with the disease are not sufficient.
Expressing that no one should be left behind in the fight against TB, State TB Cell stated this year’s theme focuses on the three million people who are missed by health systems globally since “our” current efforts to find, treat and cure everyone who gets ill with the disease are not sufficient.
The State Health Society (RNTCP) will be observing World TB Day cum sensitization programme with the local leaders at Zonal Council Hall here at 10:00 am and also the District Health Societies will be organising their respective functions.
Nagaland will complete 12 years of the Revised National Tuberculosis Programme (RNTCP) on December 1, 2014. Since the last five years, Nagaland has been achieving the Programme’s target and is among the best performing States in the country, the release noted. So far, 37,591 patients have been put on treatment. There are 44 Microscopy Centres, including 11 District TB Centers and more than 600 DOT Centers where free investigation and DOTS treatment are provided to all.
Directly Observed Treatment Short Course Chemotherapy (DOTS) is the key component of the Programme where a health worker or a trained volunteer, from the community who is named as a DOT Provider ‘directly’ watches the patient taking the drug in his or her presence.
DOTS Plus investigation and treatment for MDR TB (Multi Drug Resistant) is also available in Nagaland. Since the launch of the facility on January 24, 2012,151 patients are availing this 24-month course treatment, out of which, 5 patients have successfully completed the treatment while the rest are continuing the same.
This World TB Day, the State TB Cell has called for a global effort to find, treat and cure the three million and accelerate progress towards zero TB deaths, infections, suffering and stigma.
