Nagaland: SMCC meeting discusses TB elimination efforts

August 18, 2024 6 Views No Comment

Kohima, August 18 (MExN): The first meeting of the State Multisectoral Collaborative Committee (SMCC) was held under the chairmanship of Dr Akuo Sorhie, Mission Director NHM at the State TB Cell, Directorate of Health & Family Welfare, Kohima on August 14.

A press release received here stated that this multisectoral action makes a strong case for transforming India’s TB elimination efforts from a health sector struggle to a whole-of-society responsibility. It identifies the key areas and mechanisms of alignment and presents a concrete roadmap for harnessing existing expertise across sectors and institutions. The overarching goal is to strengthen the country’s capacity for multisectoral response that facilitates the TB elimination by 2025.

The meeting was attended by the nodal persons of various Departments such as Prisons, Rural Development, Social Welfare, Labour & Employment, SCERT and Tribal Affairs.

Addressing the meeting, Dr Akuo Sorhie made a strong case for the ensuring participation from all sectors to provide a comprehensive care and support to the TB patients which will ensure a way to fast track all the TB Elimination efforts and also the need to work in mission mode in the State.

Dr Collins Z Sono, WHO Consultant made a presentation on the NTEP and the TB disease. He stressed the objectives, goals and activities of TB Elimination which centres around 4 basic strategies- Prevent, Detect, Treat, Build. On the theme of Multisectoral approach to TB Care, Temjenochetla Ao State PPM Coordinator presented the key areas of integrated action and the scope of involvement under various ministries.

The State TB Officer, Dr Vezokholu Theyo facilitated the discussion hour based on specific agenda points such as TB Free Workplace policy which is an initiative that can be adopted in all workplaces setting, various schemes or facilities available in allied Departments, inclusion of TB in different projects and conducting Active Case Finding among specific target population such as in prisons, industries, etc and Awareness Generation activities.

The meeting concluded with vote of thanks pronounced by Dr Swuduvelu Ngully, Medical Officer State TB Cell.