Dimapur has highest TB cases in the state

October 17, 2020 167 Views No Comment

Correspondent KOHIMA, OCT 16 (NPN) : Dimapur district with 1036 Tuberculosis (TB) patients has the highest TB cases in the state followed by Kohima (414), Mon (365) and Tuensang (191), Zunheboto (85), Wokha (81), Peren (74), Kiphire (53) and Longleng (35), as per the official record from January–September, 2020.

As the country aims to end TB by 2025, five years ahead of the global target, Nagaland Health and Family Welfare (H&FW) minister S Pangnyu Phom released “TB Harega, Desh Jeetega”, a handbook for elected representatives on Tuberculosis at his office chamber here Friday.

Speaking at the handbook release programme, the minister said that the National Strategic Plan (NSP 2017-2025) has outlined ambitious strategies and several innovative steps in implementing the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP).

Pointing out that early diagnosis was appropriate treatment and important for ending TB, the minister said that in order to achieve that the NTEP has expanded NTEP facilities with state of art molecular diagnosis, availability of free treatment for both drugs sensitive and drug resistant TB cases, nutritional assistance to patients through NIKSHAY Poshan Yojana (NPY) and financial schemes to reduce catastrophic cost of patients and their families.

The minister said Nagaland state was committed to reduce TB burden in terms of incidences, prevalence, morbidity and mortality and ensure that Nagaland free from TB in line with NSP. He pointed out that Nagaland’s performance was assessed based on State TB score Index annually, adding that in 2019 the state was ranked in the second list of best performance state amongst the smaller category.

Phom also said that Nagaland was acknowledged with best performance recognition during the release of annual health India TB report launched by Union Minister for Health And Family Welfare on June 24, 2020.

The minster has exuded confidence to carry out the campaign for the purpose of engaging the elected representative where the members play a major role in supporting the efforts of TB programme in the state.

In his brief opening remark, state TB officer (NTEP) Dr. Robin Lotha appealed to the members to read the booklet and disseminate the information about TB wherever possible to ensure that Nagaland becomes TB-free state by 2025.

Delivering the purpose of the handbook, state IEC officer (NTEP) Thungchanbeni M. Humtsoe said the main aim was for the proactive engagement for more elected representatives such as MLAs, Zila Parishad, VDB members and Gram Sabha.

According to Humtsoe, the involvement of elected representatives would help in addressing social stigma and promoting advocacy and community involvement in TB programme.

She exuded confidence that the handbook would be helpful and useful in conducting advocacy and community meetings in fighting against “TB Harega Desh Jeetega”.

Meanwhile, during an interaction, Robin Lotha said for 2019 the department could achieve beyond the given target. However, he said that in 2020 it was not certain to achieve the target of 5000 since many of the officials working under NTEP were engaged in COVID duty. He, however, that said all efforts were on for better performance since its officials were rolling back to the department.

Source: http://www.nagalandpost.com/dimapur-has-highest-tb-cases-in-the-state/223311.html