National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme Nagaland bi-annual review meeting focuses on AI solutions

KOHIMA — The National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) Nagaland held a bi-annual review meeting-cum-sensitisation on AI solutions (Wadhwani) on Thursday at Hotel Japfu in Kohima.

Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Avile Zao, Mission Director (MD), National Health Mission (NHM) Nagaland, stated that ending TB in India as envisaged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is drawing closer and, keeping the target in mind, the Government of India has undertaken many new initiatives that have given a further push towards the elimination efforts.

She stated that the launching of the 100 Days Campaign in 347 districts across the nation, including three in Nagaland state last year, has yielded much of the desired benefit and now it has been extended to all the districts.

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Highlighting the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan Campaign, she asserted that from the initial phase itself, this group of people should clearly be identified with the help of health workers such as Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs), Community Health Officers (CHOs), and other health workers, and that micro-planning need to be in place in all the districts.

The MD stated that the NAT machines that are already in place across the districts are expected to run to their full capacity so that the testing rate is increased.

For reduction in mortality, Dr. Zao reiterated that care should be taken that every TB patient visiting the facilities should be tested for other comorbidities and categorised accordingly to the severity of the disease.

She maintained that any person dying of TB should be properly evaluated and/or investigated regarding the causes and reasons, and it should be documented as well.

The mission director also told the officials that all the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) payments are expected to be paid on time when funds are made available. While acknowledging that there are fund issues, whenever funds are made available, she said the NHM tries to prioritise TB programmes as well as malaria programmes as they are all in the elimination phase.

Pointing out that the uptake of CY-TB testing and TB Preventive Treatment (TPT) in Nagaland is not very encouraging, she urged the officials concerned to put more emphasis on these areas. She also urged the districts to give proper counselling to the family members of TB patients during their initial home visits.

Highlighting that in Nagaland, 166 villages out of 1,275 have been declared TB-free under the TB Mukt Panchayat initiative this year, and for this activity Nagaland was awarded during World TB Day in New Delhi by the Union Health Minister, she acknowledged the district team and rural department for all the efforts undertaken.

She acknowledged the Wadhwani AI team for partnering with NTEP by bringing in AI technology to address the various functions of the programme. Furthermore, she requested all the officers and staff to give their best and do a little more extra, and she assured them of all possible assistance.

Chairing the meeting, Dr. E. Phyantsuthung, State TB Officer (STO), in his address, stated that the purpose of the meeting is to review district performance regarding the performance indicators in each district and analyze the different performance indicators.

He also acknowledged the relentless efforts of the former State TB Officers (STOs), and the former and present District TB Officers (DTOs) and their support staff.

He also expressed delight about the collaboration of NTEP with Wadhwani AI and asserted the need to leverage technology, adding that artificial intelligence is basically to empower healthcare workers in various aspects of their daily work.

The official also urged the officials to work efficiently in order to strive to achieve the national target or above the national level in the different verticals, besides emphasising the need for upscaling screening and tests.

Dr. Collins Z. Sono, Government of India (GOI) World Health Organisation (WHO) Medical Consultant, presented the bi-annual district performance review and highlighted the test facilities and capacities available under NTEP in Nagaland state. He also asserted the need to increase testing.

He emphasised the need to do research on TB and HIV co-infection owing to the high prevalence rate in the state.

Dr. Sono also suggested the need to increase the number of Nikshay Mitra initiatives, ensure accurate data entry in the portals, proper mapping, case-finding efforts, decentralisation of TB services through HWCs, mortality reduction, nutrition, among others.

Representatives of Wadhwani AI gave a sensitisation on AI Solutions (CATB, PATO, and VMTB) and informed that these are AI-based solutions in the domains of health, agriculture, and education with its presence in 15+ states across the country. Wadhwani AI is the official AI partner of the Central TB Division (CTD), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. They also highlighted the various features of the AI technology in TB diagnosis.

The District TB Officers and other officials also gave their feedback on ways to address the issues to eliminate TB from the state. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Vilekho Bio, Finance Consultant, NTEP.

Prior to the commencement of the event, Chairperson of the meeting Dr. E. Phyantsuthung, State TB Officer Nagaland, led the participants to pay tribute to the deceased Governor Lt. La. Ganesan, who had tremendously contributed towards the NTEP throughout his tenure.