The 42nd World Tuberculosis (TB) Day 2023 was observed in Manipur with theme “Yes! We can end TB!” at Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences auditorium in Imphal on Friday.
The programme was observed under the aegis of National TB Elimination Programme Manipur and National Health Mission Manipur.
Speaking on the occasion, state Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Sapam Ranjan Singh said that eliminating TB by 2025 is the top priority programme of the government of India.
Considering the present trend, the minister said that the state government has also taken up steps to eliminate TB with co-operation from every sector of the society.
Taking into consideration all the technological developments, detection will also be effective but commitments are needed from officials and patients as well to eliminate TB, he added.
[bsa_pro_ad_space id=1]The minister added that people usually neglect health value unless they are seriously affected and regular health check-ups are also done very rarely. As health care professionals, one should always be committed to provide health care delivery to the people, he added. He said that joint effort is necessary to fight against TB as fought against COVID-19.
Regarding the current situation of water scarcity in the state, the minister appealed the people to address the issue together while stating that, ‘water scarcity is our own creation and we need to be aware of the cause of water scarcity’.
Special Secretary (Health & Family Welfare) H Rosita who is also the project director of Manipur AIDS control society (MACS) said that all stakeholders and the public should work together to eliminate tuberculosis. She added that MACS is also an inseparable part as People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) are prone to such opportunistic infection and the departments need to co-operate to eliminate TB. She further added that early detection and early treatment is the most important step to fight against TB.
It may be mentioned that World TB Day is observed annually on March 24 to build public awareness about the global epidemic of tuberculosis and efforts to eliminate the disease. Although elimination of Tuberculosis is one of the sustainable development targets to be achieved by 2030 by the world, India has set the target of 2025.