Dimapur, May 12 (MExN): The revised national TB control programme held it’s training/retraining of DOTS Plus TB HIV supervisors and senior treatment supervisors on DOTS followed by the 1st quarterly review meeting on May 10 and 11 respectively at the office of the Directorate of Health& family Welfare, Kohima.
Directorate of Health & Family Welfare Kohima State TB Officer (RNTCP) DR. KT Lotha in a press release said that the resource persons of the training were Dr Shankar Dapkekar, RNTCP Consultant, Dr Giresh Chandra Singh, State TB project Coordinator, Dr Khelito District Tb Officer Dimapur and Dr Vezakholo District Tb Officer Kohima. The following day at the review meeting, Dr KT Lotha the State TB officer in his opening remark highlighted the performance of the programme and added that during the last quarter the State of Nagaland has achieved a Case Detection Rate of 86% and Cure Rate of 91%. He also enlightened the attendees about the 1st of its kind diagnostic tool in the north east namely Gene Xpert supplied by the Union Ministry of Health& Family Welfare. This is a DNA based apparatus for diagnosis of MDR (Multi Drug Resistance) TB in just a matter of 2 hours. This facility will be available at Kohima and will cater to the states of Manipur, 4 States of Assam and Nagaland.
Later on all the Districts gave presentations on their Activities and Achievements during the last Quarter. DR J Chase, Addl Director DHFW in his closing remark encouraged all the staffs present to deliver good quality of services to our people. He also added the need to set an example for the other States by giving our best. After the launch of DOTS Plus services for MDR TB, 56 patients have been tested and out of which 22 of them has been tested positive for MDR TB. They will be undergoing the DOTS Plus treatment for free. On the other hand out of the 543 patients tested for HIV/TB, around 8% have been found to be co infected.
Various other issues were raised and discussed. The meeting was chaired by DR John Sweyievisa, Jt Director incharge of RCH programme. The meeting was well attended by all the Staff and Officers of State TB Cell and District TB staff.
