Nagaland accelerates response, action towards TB Free Villages

January 7, 2024 20 Views No Comment

Kohima, January 7 (MExN): A state level sensitisation meeting on TB Mukt Panchayat or TB free villages was held for the district/block level Rural Development and TB officials at the conference hall, office of Rural Development on January 5.

This initiative was officially launched on World TB day 2023 by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi at Varanasi to leverage the support of over 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats to raise awareness about TB, eliminate the stigma attached to the disease and help monitor and improve uptake of services, stated a press release received here.

End TB by 2025

It may be mentioned here that prior to the launch, in July 2022, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was already signed between the Central TB Division (CTD), MOHFW, and the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) for collaborative actions for an accelerated response towards End TB by 2025. The scope of collaboration includes advocacy for TB free villages, inclusion of TB related activities in the Gram Panchayat Development plan etc.

Under the TB Mukt Panchayat initiative, Health Functionaries at the village and Sub-Centre/HWC levels along with the support of Gram Panchayats or Village Development Boards (VDBs in the context of Nagaland) make efforts towards TB Elimination wherein it is measured and validated through a certification process so that villages can be declared TB Free.

Burden, magnitude and challenges of TB

Dr Vezokholu Theyo, State TB Officer, National Elimination TB Elimination Programme (NTEP), spoke on the burden, magnitude and challenges of the disease. She stated that TB is a notifiable disease and under the National Strategic Plan 2017-2025, Nagaland has taken many measures and activities under the four main approaches- detect, treat, prevent and build.

TB Free Villages is one of such activity under the “Build” strategy. She reminded that a concerted effort by all sectors is the last mile for a TB Free Nagaland.

An overview of this initiative was shared by Dr Collins Sono, WHO Medical Consultant. He spoke on the Certification/Verification process which needs to be completed within the stipulated timeline.

It mentioned that the certification process will be adjudged on six indicators i.e. presumptive tests conducted, TB Notification, UDST (Universal Drug Susceptibility Testing),Treatment Success rate, payment of Nikshay Poshan Yojana, Nutritional support to TB patients under Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan.

People’s Plan Campaign

Thungchanbemo Ezung, Rural Development Officer elucidated about the People’s Plan Campaign. This was instituted by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj for all Gram Panchayats, Blocks and Districts to prepare implementation plans and budgets for flagship schemes/programmes for economic development and social justice.

1278 Village Development Boards (VDBs) under 74 RD blocks are being considered for the certification process. A Joint Collaborative Action plan and activities and steps to be undertaken by both the Departments were stressed upon during the presentation given by Temjenochetla Ao, State PPM Coordinator, NTEP.

Thungchanbeni M Humtsoe State IEC Officer, NTEP in her presentation stated that a host of Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilisation (ACSM) activities using various platforms such as social media, awareness campaigns, and advocacy meetings were the need of the hour for success of this initiative.

Earlier, Azenuo Pienyu, Director RD Department who chaired the programme welcomed the gathering and assured full cooperation and support towards this noble task. The programme concluded after a discussion by the gathering on the task that lay ahead. Vote of thanks was pronounced by Celine Thol Jami, Block Development Officer.