TB Forum calls for concerted effort to address challenges in Nagaland

August 12, 2022 49 Views No Comment

Our Correspondent
Kohima | August 12

The need to put concerted effort to address challenges in Tuberculosis (TB) in Nagaland was stressed on at the meeting of State TB Forum, Nagaland, here today. The forum sought the involvement of the community, health workers, politicians etc.

India has committed to “End TB” by 2025, 5 years ahead of the global SDG target. The meeting was called by National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP), Directorate of Health and Family Welfare, Kohima, Nagaland.

Chairing the meeting, Asangla Imti, Secretary, Health & Family Welfare, Nagaland stressed on the need to have proper monitoring system in dealing with TB. She also called upon the members of the forum to go the extra mile to ensure that the State TB Forum stays active and implement the targets and programmes in an effective manner.

Dr Collins Z Sono, Medical Consultant, WHO said that the State TB Forum aims to engage with policymakers and implementers to ensure justice, rights and dignity of TB patients for effective service delivery and also supplement government initiatives to enforce TB patient friendly law, policy and programmes.

Action taken report

Presenting the action taken report on state TB Forum’s earlier meetings, Dr Apichetla Amer, APO informed that the installation of IEC hoardings and wall painting is ongoing affair in all the districts.

The OPD load, testing load and the patients notified were analysed.

She also informed that DTOs and NTEP staff are now actively participating in VHND days and also creating awareness and sensitization. She said that District TB Forums have been formed in all the districts and meetings were conducted in all districts except Mokokchung.

She also informed that ARK Foundation (NGOs) have also been included in the state TB Forum.

Later, agendas on community support for TB patients, involvement of women leaders, village leaders and chairpersons etc, sensitization with elected representatives, TB champions to support in NTEP programmes, roll out of TB Preventive Treatment (TPT) for contacts of TB patients and TB Free initiative, were discussed at the meeting. Two TB champions also shared their testimonies.

On sensitization programmes with elected representatives, Dr Tiasunup Pongener, State TB Officer (NTEP) informed that he will be writing to the respective Deputy Commissioners for conduct of the related programme.

Dr Sono meanwhile informed that the State TB Forum, Nagaland also aims to reduce stigma and discrimination and ensure social security of TB patients, survivors and their families, to improve awareness on various government schemes, provisions, facilities available for TB patients and to improve treatment literacy and adherence among TB patients.

It also aim to engage in evidence base advocacy with the stakeholders to expand services, to advice on strategies for engaging communities affected by TB and increasing community participation in TB program through network formation etc.

It also works to create platform of dialogue between all stakeholders, create and manage resources to sustain and accelerate TB prevention, control, care and treatment services. The forum comprise of 10-15 members from different sectors (persons affected by TB/TB champions), CSOs, media, government officials, key stakeholders etc).

Source: https://morungexpress.com/tb-forum-calls-for-concerted-effort-to-address-challenges-in-nagaland