HT Correspondent
SIVASAGAR, June 10: In a major attempt to rid the country of the scourge of TB by 2025, the Health Department is ready to start the Adult BCG Vaccination Programme from Tuesday in two high-prevalence districts of the state, Sivasagar and Lakhimpur. Giving the details of the programme, Dr Saurov Kumar Gogoi, the joint director of Health and FW Department here, said that the BCG vaccination will be administered to people above 18 years, as the BCG vaccine administered to babies works effectively till that age. People with diabetes and tobacco consumers will be given priority, as they are more susceptible to TB infection. Dr Gogoi said that the new programme is expected to eliminate the disease by the year 2025 as desired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Dr Dwijen Koch, District TB Office, Sivasagar, said that a total of 152783 registered TB patients in the district will be brought to 7 designated vaccination camps in Kalugaon, Gaurisagar, Morabazar, Kheluwa, Demow, Gelekey, and Wood Urban Centre for vaccination and distribution of beneficiary kits provided by the government. Dr Koch said that the killer disease has spread its tentacles far and wide despite the best efforts to eliminate it through centrally orchestrated programs like DoT (Directly Observed Therapy) was launched vigorously due to the affected people’s lack of awareness. Most of the beneficiaries discontinue the drugs once they regain vigor and thereby develop a resistant variety of TB. Dr Koch clarified that the vaccine BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin) was first administered to humans in 1921 and is safe for all.
The meeting was also attended by Dr Sadhan Borah, sub-divisional health officer, Nazira, Jyotismita Saikia, PPM coordinator, Anjuma Changmai, district community mobiliser, and Anjushree Phukan, district media coordinator.
