Kohima, March 28 (MExN): The Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTBCP) under Directorate of Health & Family Welfare, Kohima today disclosed that Nagaland will be launching the Drug Bedaquiline once all the requirements are met.
In response to the press statement issued by Nagaland Users’ Network and ARK Foundation on the occasion of Word TB Day 2017, State TB Officer, DHFW Nagaland clarified that the ‘Training of Expanding Bedaquiline Access’ for the Programme Officials is to be held by the WHO. Since Nagaland does not have a Culture & Drug Sensitivity Testing Laboratory, which is a prime requisite for patients to be initiated on this Drug, a mechanism will have to be worked out to link to a C&DST Lab outside the State. “Like so, many other technical modalities will have to be worked out. Once this is completed and Drugs are received from the Centre, Nagaland will be rolling out this new initiative which may take some time,” State TB Officer stated in a press release.
It also informed that Delamanid Drug is yet to come under the purview of the programme as of now. For any new drug/s to be introduced in the Programme, it will have to go a series of procedures, quality assurance, studies, testing, approvals etc which is beyond the control of the State Programme.
State TB Officer also clarified that RNTCP was launched in December 2002 and not 2001. Relating to the CBNAAT machines, State TB Officer said that the machines are available now at Dimapur, Kohima, Mokokchung and Mon each. The CBNAAT machines which were meant for the Districts of Zunheboto and Tuensang could not be installed due to failure to identify the CBANAAT sites since certain specification and criteria could not be met. Hence, they are being temporarily kept at Kohima and Dimapur where the caseload is more.
It also clarified that 99 DOTS for co infected patients and Isonaizid Preventive therapy (IPT) for PLHIV was launched only in December 2016. Since then, 24 (Kohima) and 22 (Dimapur) Co-infected patients have been initiated on 99 DOTS treatment. A proper co-ordination between the RNTCP and NSACS becomes crucial for the successful implementation of these activities. Since these two initiatives are still at a nascent stage, it will require a few more months before these activities are streamlined.
In 2014, the number of Co-infected patients were 210 for whom DOTS TB treatment were already given. The figure 2881 as published is the number of registered TB patients who know their HIV status (whether Positive or Negative).
Further, no case of XDR TB patients is reported to have died so far under the programme. Three cases of XDR TB patients are currently under treatment in the State. Medicines for treating XDR TB cases such as Linezolid, Clofazamine, Amoxyclav, Inj Capreomycin, PAS, Moxifloxacinetc is available under the Programme.
Meanwhile, all concerned individuals or groups are requested to “present only the true facts or knowledge to people in general, if required information or data can be obtained from the Programme or Department concerned. Failure to do so create a lot of unnecessary confusion and unrest among the people involved. It is also expected that our partners, NGOs etc participating in the programme in any forms continue to give support and try their utmost best to bridge the gap/loopholes between the public, patient community and the Programme.”
