Kohima, November 16 (MExN): With the objective to build a concerted effort towards Tuberculosis (TB) elimination in the state, a sensitization workshop on TB was held at the Rongmei community Hall, Kohima on November 15.
It was organized by the ARK Foundation in partnership with Nagabazar Youth Organization and was supported by the NTEP, Nagaland.
ARK Foundation President, Ketho Angami, as the resource person urged the participants not to stigmatize or discriminate people with TB but rather to facilitate in getting the proper treatment and to create awareness on TB among the community.
He mentioned that unfortunately many people have succumbed to TB but many have also recovered through the free treatment provided by the Government, stated a press release received here. “However, the larger community still is very much ignorant about the disease making it difficult to response to this public health threat. This has also resulted in fear against TB and stigmatization among the community,” he observed.
He mentioned some signs and symptoms of TB and that people with an immunosuppressant health condition such as diabetes, hypertension, HIV, illicit drugs and alcohol use are at a higher risk to getting TB. Factors such as closeness and frequency of contact, improper ventilation, and crowded settings create greater risk of TB transmission. And that, such risk setting needs to be avoided as much as possible, Ketho said.
Further he highlighted about the different kinds of TB such as drug sensitive TB, Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB), extensively drug resistant TB (XDR-TB), and that basing on the type of the TB, treatment is being provided by the Government.
On the treatment perspective, he stated that TB is fully curable if the proper diagnosis and the treatment are taken as per the prescription.
