Kohima, March 25 (MExN): The State TB Cell Nagaland Kohima observed World TB Day on March 24 at the Zonal Council Hall, Kohima with the local leaders of Kohima town (Chairmen, Goanburas and various other leaders). In his introductory speech, Chairman Dr. K.T Lotha, State TB Officer, RNTCP shared about three facets of the programme, namely DOTS, PMDT and TBHIV collaboration. Dr. Apichetla Amer, Asst. Programme Officer, RNTCP in her presentation emphasized on TB disease and the RNTCP. Dr. Pankaj Thomas, North East Consultant, WHO, gave the thematic message on “Reach the three million- find, treat, cure TB.”
A press release from State TB Cell, RNTCP, Directorate of Health &Family Welfare stressed that, “TB is curable, but our current efforts to find, treat and cure everyone who gets ill with the disease are not sufficient.” Of the nine million people a year who get sick with TB, a third of them do not get the TB services that they deserve. Many of these three million people live in the world’s poorest, most vulnerable communities and include groups such as migrants, miners, drug users and sex workers. “We believe that no one should be left behind in the fight against TB,” it added. This World TB Day, the State TB Cell called for a global effort to find, treat and cure the three million and accelerate progress towards zero TB deaths, infections, suffering and stigma.
In the programme, Benathung Humtsoe presented a special song. Dr. G. Kemp, Director (Health), DHFW who was the Chief Patron of the Programme encouraged the participants to spread the message to the community and avail the services provided by the Programme. By doing this, the missed 3 million patients in “our” respective localities can be reached, he said.
Different activities were carried out throughout the district to mark the occasion.
