Officers and staff of District Jail Kohima and RNTCP during the awareness programme and interaction on Tuberculosis at the District Jail Kohima on March 21.
Kohima, March 21 (MExN): In commemoration of the World TB Week from March 18 to 24, an awareness programme and interaction on Tuberculosis with the inmates and staff of the Kohima District Jail was held today at the District Jail Kohima. It is an initiative jointly organized by the State TB Cell, District TB centre Kohima of Revised National TB Control programme (RNTCP) and the Directorate of Health & Family Welfare, Nagaland.
Chairing the function Dr. Apichetla Amer, Asst. Program officer highlighted the various target groups identified and the steps taken in spreading awareness to these target groups.
Dr. Vezokholu speaking on the Tuberculosis Virus (mycobacterium tuberculosis) and RNTCP remarked, “Active Pulmonary TB is an airborne disease which spreads through coughing, sneezing where infectious aerosol droplets attacks the lungs of the infected person. It is a social disease and not a hereditary disease as many claim while the other form, extra pulmonary tuberculosis is not infectious and occurs mostly in immuno- suppressed persons and young children”. Highlighting the initiatives of the RNTCP in spreading awareness and containing the virus through free treatments, medical camps, free medication and workshop she assured the inmates that the disease is 100% curable.
Speaking on the theme’ “Stop TB in my lifetime”, Dr. K. T. Lotha State TB Officer giving a brief overview on the history of the Virus and the reason behind celebrating March 24 as World TB day said, “This day is celebrated in commemoration of the German Scientist Robert Koch who discovered the virus on 24 March, 1882, the disease known by different names before the discovery of the virus by Koch dates back to 400 BC. World TB Day is celebrated to bring about awareness, so that people can join hands in eradicating this contagious virus”. With the political and economic support high in Nagaland he called on the people to join hands with them in eradicating the disease. Since its inception on December 1 2002 RNTCP has now 11 District Tuberculosis Centres, 43 Microscopy Centres, one DRTB centre each at Mokokchung and Khuzama he added. Impressed by the 2012 statistic which reveals that the State was able to detect 81 % cases of TB out of which 90% of the cases were cured, surpassing the national norms of 70% case detection and 85% cure detection, a 90% case and cure detection has been set for 2013, he said. Sunny Keppen, Jailor, District Jail, Kohima in his closing remarks, while thanking the various departments for creating awareness among the inmates assured them of bringing about a hygienic environment within the Jail premises. Presentations were made to all the inmates. Asst. Chaplain Kevilezo Pienyü invoked blessings for the program while Nzano Kikon sang a melodious number. Another awareness programme on Tuberculosis will be held tomorrow with the inmates and staff of the KRIPA Foundation Kohima.
