Dimapur, March 23 (EMN): As the State is set to observe the World TB Day today on the theme ‘Unite to end TB,’ Nagaland Users’ Network (NUN) and ARK foundation called for aggressive programme to combat the aged old disease.
India, considered as the highest TB burden country in the world and also with the highest number of multi drug resistant TB cases, the two organisations emphasised on access to better and friendlier diagnosis and treatment drugs such as Bedaquiline and Delamanid to combat the resistant strain of the Mycobacterium Tuberculosis.
The two local NGOs called upon the State’s RNTCP division to propose the need for these drugs to the central TB division in Delhi. Renbonthung Tungoe remarked that “Unless the programme is designed to effectively prevent and treat people infected with TB, we will be fighting a losing battle.”
Nagaland being a State, where TB is not considered as a serious health threat by many due to poor awareness and lack of poor infrastructure for diagnosing and treating the already infected people, the State’s Revised National Tuberculosis Programme has been providing services relating to TB ever since it was rolled out in 2001. The programme becomes more challenging with reported cases of 19606 HIV/AIDS (since 1999) and TB being the most common opportunistic infection.
Meanwhile, NUN and ARK lauded the national TB Programme for allocating another 5 Gene Xpert machine to the State in addition to the one already installed at NHAK (DTC).
In this regard, NUN and ARK urged the Health Department in Tuensang and Zunheboto divisions to immediately install the machine so as to enable provide services to the people suffering from TB. It also expressed resentment on the reported absence of the Tuensang DTO from office since August 2016. In this regard, NUN and ARK called the Deputy Commissioner and CMO of Tuensang to take immediate action on the erring officer. It further urged the State’s RNTCP to enable optimum usage of the machine already installed at Kohima, Dimapur, Mokokchung, Mon and also informed the public to avail the facilities.
With the launching of Isoniazid preventive therapy and daily DOTS programme in the month of December 2016, NUN and ARK foundation urged the RNTCP to mobilise PLHIV community in availing the services.
Ketho Angami challenged the State RNTCP to ensure reaching out, counselled and link to the programme for those in need of the service.
Meanwhile, NUN lauded the HIV/TB division for inducting NUN in the STWG and expressed optimism that the partnership between public and NGOs will strengthen the programme.
World TB Day is observed on March 24 every year. Tuberculosis is one of the oldest diseases in the world that continues to kill people every year. India, having the highest TB burden countries in the world, is home to around 2.2 million people infected with TB as estimated by World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2015.
