State to observe World TB Day

MN Dimapur, March 22 State Health Society under Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) has announced to observe the World TB Day cum sensitization programme on March 24 at Zonal Council Hall, Kohima, at 10 a.m. World TB Day is observed on March 24 every year to create public awareness. This year, the World TB Day will be observed on the theme is “Reach the three million- Find, treat and cure TB.” A Health Department statement said that of the nine million people who get sick with TB, a third of them do not get the TB services they deserve. It added that many of these three million peoples live in the world’s poorest, most vulnerable communities and include groups such as migrants, miners, drug users and sex workers. It has embarked upon a mission so that no one should be left behind in the fight against TB. This year’s theme focuses on the three million people who are missed by health systems globally. Nagaland will be completing 12 years since the launching RNTCP on December 1, 2014. Since the last five years, Nagaland has achieved the target and is among the best performing States in the country. So far 37,591 patients have been put on treatment. There are 44 Microscopy Centres including 11 District TB Centers and more than 600 DOT Centers where free investigation and DOTS treatment are provided to all. Directly Observed Treatment Short Course Chemotherapy (DOTS) is the key component of the Programme where health worker or trained volunteers from the community, who is named as a DOT Provider, ‘directly’ monitor the patient taking the drug in his or her presence. DOTS Plus investigation and treatment for MDR TB (Multi Drug Resistant) is also available in thr State. Since the launch of the facility on January 24, 2012, a total of 151 patients are availing the 24 month course treatment out of which 5 patients have successfully completed the treatment while the rests are continuing the same. World TB Day provides an opportunity to call for further action to reach the three million. World TB Day calls for a global effort to find, treat and cure the three million and accelerate progress towards zero TB deaths, infections, suffering and stigma.