Nagaland renews commitment to end TB by 2025

Our Correspondent
Kohima | March 25

On World TB Day, the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) Nagaland urged for collective efforts to eliminate TB from Nagaland by 2025. There are around 4000 TB patients in the state at present.

This annual event aims to raise awareness about TB and efforts to end the global epidemic. Marking the day in Kohima, Commissioner & Secretary for Health & Family Welfare (H&FW), Y Kikheto Sema, met with six TB patients at Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK) and wished them a speedy recovery. 

In a generous move, Kikheto and family will support one TB patient each in 11 districts for 6 months with a ‘food basket’ until the end of their treatment. He called upon officials and staff of the Directorate of Health & Family Welfare and well-wishers to adopt at least one TB patient. Additionally, Dr Ritu Thurr, Mission Director of the National Health Mission (NHM) Nagaland, pledged to support five TB patients for 6 months.

‘Renew commitment in fight against TB’
During the programme held at the H&FW Directorate in Kohima, Kikheto urged the public to recommit themselves in the fight against TB, calling for unity towards the elimination of this infectious disease which is a leading cause of death worldwide.

He noted that while global efforts to combat TB have saved millions of lives, the COVID-19 pandemic has set back progress made in recent years, with TB deaths increasing in 2020 and 2021. Despite extensive work and various efforts to prevent and eliminate TB in Nagaland, he revealed that there are still around 4000 TB patients in the state. Kikheto emphasized the need to go the extra mile to achieve the goal of eliminating TB by 2025, a commitment made by India ahead of the global deadline of 2030 ( Sustainable Development Goals target). He added that the State Strategic Plan aligns with the National Strategic Plan to eliminate TB in Nagaland.

Community support for TB patients
Kikheto said that GoI has also launched the ‘Community support for TB patients’ also called ‘Nikshay Mitra Campaign’ and “’radhan Mantri TB Mukt Abhiyaan (PMTBMBA)’, an initiative that was launched by President of India on September 9, 2022, calling well-wishers/donors (individuals, corporate, NGOs, elected representatives etc) to adopt & support patients who are not financially sound and provide nutritional support.

“Most of the TB victims are poor and therefore, every step taken to eliminate TB may be linked directly to the life of the poor and therefore we need to support them,” he said.

He expressed happiness that within a span of 6 months, more than 251 donors (Nikshay Mitra) have come forward to support the nutrition of poor and needy TB patients in Nagaland.

He called for the involvement and support line departments such as Administration Municipality, Social Welfare, Rural Development, Labour, Tribal Affairs, IPR etc. to fight against TB, adding that churches, NGOs, private practitioners, families and individuals will further help strengthen TB elimination programme.

Kikheto also appealed to all the concerned healthcare workers to put more efforts in finding the TB cases and putting them under the right Treatment regimen as specified by the NTEP guidelines.

“Let us all embrace this Year’s theme ‘Yes! We can End TB!’ and let us achieve the target of Eliminating TB by 2025 as committed by our country,” he added.

‘Strong political commitment is needed’
Dr Ritu Thurr, Mission Director, National Health Mission (NHM) Nagaland said that a strong political commitment is the need of the hour to bring together heads of state, and provide the opportunity to mobilize political and social commitment to ramp up progress against the disease.

He said that investment is critical in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and socioeconomic crises that has put End TB progress at risk, and to ensure equitable access to prevention and care.

He also stressed on the need to strengthen the service delivery system and at the same time convergence of the line departments to address TB in the state. He said that ending TB requires concerted action by all sectors.

With the gigantic task of elimination TB by 2025, he said, much remains to be done at all levels and a well concerted effort is the need of the hour.

“My appeal on this occasion would to be all the health care staff in particular to reaffirm their commitment and join hands to tackle this burden of fighting this disease. Until TB is eliminated, World TB Day won’t be a celebration. But it will continue to be a valuable opportunity to educate the public about the devastation caused by TB and how it can be stopped,” he said.

About 8000 people develop TB disease daily in India
Talking on ‘NTEP & Journey So Far,’ Dr Collins Z Sono, medical consultant WHO, said that about 1/3rd of world population is infected with TB (Latent TB) & 5-10% of people infected with M tuberculosis will develop TB disease (Active TB) during their lifetime.

The population at higher risk include the malnourished, diabetes, HIV etc. Also includes, health care workers, miners, prisoners, slum dwellers and anyone staying in congregate settings.

In India, the estimated incidence in 2022 is 3 million which accounts to 28% of the global burden. Everyday about 8000 people develop TB disease in India.

As far as mortality is concerned, he said WHO estimated 4.94 lakh people died due to TB in India during 2022 (35% of the global burden). Every day more than 1300 Indians are dying due to TB, that means-2-3 death every 3 minutes. MDR-TB: India also contributes to 26% (1.19 lakh) of global MDR-TB burden (4.5 lakh). Latent TB infection: It is estimated that about 40% Indian population is infected with TB bacteria, in the form of latent infection. About 5-10 % of people with latent TB develop active Tuberculosis in their lifetime.

On risk factors, he said that people with weakened immune systems have a much greater risk of falling ill from TB. Malnourishment, Diabetes & HIV are the three main factors in India which are leading to conversion of LTBI to active TB.

On vulnerability mapping and active case finding, he said that Nagaland has 52 DMCs, 7 X-ray under NTEP supported by CTD, adding that Nagaland has around 750 chemists and private hospitals registered and supporting the programme.

The programme was chaired by Dr Tiasunup Pongener, State TB Officer, NTEP, Nagaland.