Participants and officials during the World TB Day observed at Viphoma village on March 24.
Kohima, March 26 (MExN): The District TB Officer and staff of the National TB Elimination Program, Kohima District, observed World TB Day at Viphoma village on March 24.
A short sensitization programme was conducted at the Council Hall where the Chief Medical Officer, Dr Vezokholu Theyo exhorted for community participation to eliminate TB. She said that TB is an old disease affecting every part of our body except our hair, nails and teeth, but is completely curable if treated properly and on time.
Dr Asunu Thong, District TB Officer, spoke on the theme ‘The Clock is Ticking’. She urged the participants to do away with the stigma associated with TB as it can affect anyone, but instead encourage and guide those in need. Since April 2018, the Government has also started giving nutritional benefits of Rs 500 per month for registered TB patients during the course of their treatment. The programme is also aggressively finding cases by going to hard to reach villages, vulnerable populations like Old Age Homes, Orphanages, Rehabilitation Centres, Stone Quarries, Urban Slums, Street vendors where screening and collecting sputum samples to be tested in the laboratory is being done on a regular basis.
Dr Rupert Peseyie, Dy CMO and District Immunization Officer encouraged the village people above 60 years and 45 and above with co-morbidities to take the COVID vaccine to safeguard their health. A cured TB patient from the village shared her journey followed by short speeches from the Village Chairman and Village Health Chairman. The programme was chaired by Neiphrelie, Dots Plus Supervisor.
Following the programme, a health camp was conducted by the District TB Officer and Dr Kethosino Thou, MO, DTC where 40 patients were treated and given free medicines. A total of 15 sputum samples were also collected to be tested for TB.
