World TB Day was observed at the Directorate of Health & Family Welfare Kohima under the theme, “Yes We Can End TB” with Kikheto Sema, IAS, Commissioner & Secretary cum Chairman, Executive Committee NHM as the special guest on 24th March 2023.
Kikheto, while exhorting the gathering, said that each year, World Tuberculosis (TB) Day is commemorated on March 24 to raise public awareness about the devastating health, social and economic consequences and to step up efforts to end the global TB epidemic, he urged the people to renew their commitment and rededicate themselves in the fight against TB and also unite to work towards the elimination of T.B which is an infectious disease and leading cause of death worldwide.
He added that TB remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious killers, and the Global efforts to combat TB have saved an estimated 66 million lives since the year 2000. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has reversed years of progress made in the fight and TB deaths increased in 2020 and 2021.
As the year 2030 is the deadline fixed for eliminating TB across the world (SDG target) but India has committed to ending TB by 2025, 5 years ahead with the clarion call given by the Prime Minister of India at the “Delhi End TB Summit” on 13th March 2018. The campaign calls for a social movement focused on patient-centric and holistic care driven by integrated actions for TB Free India, so aligning with the National Strategic Plan, the State Strategic Plan to eliminate TB in Nagaland by 2025 has been drafted.
The GoI has also launched the “community support for TB patients” also called the “Nikshay Mitra Campaign” and “Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Abhiyaan (PMTBMBA)”, an initiative that was launched by the President of India on September 9th, 2022 calling well-wishers/donors (individuals, corporates, NGOs, elected representatives, etc) to adopt & support patients who are not financially sound and provide nutritional support as most of the TB victims are poor.
He further added that with the involvement and support of line departments such as Administration, Municipality, Social Welfare, Rural Development, Labour, Tribal Affairs, IPR, etc to fight against T.B and for effective functioning of the programme and the Churches, NGOs, Private Practitioners, Families, and Individuals will further strengthen the programme initiatives and to achieve our goals in eradicating TB.
The commissioner and secretary also visited NHAK and met 6 TB patients on behalf of the department and wished for their speedy recovery along with his family they are to support 11 patients- one in each District for 6 months with the Food Basket till the completion of their treatment and he urged all the Officials and Staff of the DHFW, well-wishers, to come forward in adopting at least 1 TB patient with the Food Basket till the completion of their treatment.
Dr. Ritu Thurr, Mission Director NHM, said a strong political and administrative commitment is required, an uninterrupted supply of TB drugs, and a better sensitization to achieve the goal of eradicating the disease. He also said that he has committed to look after 5 TB patients for 6 months.
Anjali shared her personal journey on how she, as a TB patient, became a TB Champion.
Earlier the programme was chaired by Dr. Tiasunep Pongener State TB Officer NTEP, and Dr. Collins Z Sono, Medical Consultant, WHO briefed on NTEP.
(Avika Awomi, IA)
