HT Correspondent
JORHAT/SIVASAGAR/HAFLONG, March 14: The World TB Day has been observed across state on Friday. The Jorhat Medical College and Hospital superintendent professor Purnima Barua and BDO, central, Jorhat block, Suman Das On Friday jointly gave away an appreciation letter to the Number 28 Meleng Balichapori Panchayat, on behalf of the district administration, to GP President Durlav Chetia for the GP’s “efforts to make the entire GP completely TB-free and requested to continue the efforts for sustainability of the TB-free achievements.”
The World TB Day was observed here with a day-long programme organised by the Jorhat District Health Society under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) at Number 28 Meleng Balichapori Panchayat, on the outskirts here, on Friday.
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District TB officer Dr Bhaktimay Bhattacharyya informed that an awareness meeting, anchored by social worker Jagannath Agniborah, was held in the said GP area covering people from 27 villages.
Dr Bhaktimay Bhattacharyya, in his address, spoke about the significance of observing World TB Day, the disease (TB), its causes and treatment available under Government health services, and ways to prevent the spread of the disease.
Dr Bhattacharyya stated that efforts initiated by the health department, involving the GP, Zilla Parishad and villagers since 2016 to make the entire GP completely TB-free and tobacco-free, was moving in right direction with the GP reaching the final stage of officially becoming TB-free GP, which was likely to be first in the state.
WHO consultant Dr Diganta Thakuria, JMCH superintendent professor Purnima Barua among others also addressed the gathering.
The Sivasagar health department on Friday observed World TB Day along with the rest of the world. In the forenoon session, a massive procession was flagged off by Dr Bhupendranath Das, JT director of health; Sivasagar Dr Das said that since Robert Cox formally announced the discovery of the bacteria on March 24, 1882, and since then the world health community has been observing the day.
Manoj Kumar Borthakur, journalist, and a member of the District TB Eradication Committee said that a commitment to fight the disease collectively can yield the result and the Panchayats can play a vital role.
District nodal officer, Dr Udayaditya Rajkonwar said that not just a handful of people from the health department but the whole people of the society need to support the TB eradication programme launched by the government for total eradication by 2025.
Rajkonwar said 6000 people are affected every day in India and 40 pc people carry the germ normally but due to immunity, it cannot infect all. He said that the TB eradication programme has improved over the years and the sputum examination centres have been opened in the rural health centres as well.
He also explained the symptoms of the disease. More than 40 pc HIV-positive people die from TB. A total of 188 people per 1 lakh are TB patients. In India, over 24 lakh TB cases have been identified in 2021 and over a million remain unidentified.
Dr Makhan Kalita, superintendent, Sivasagar Civil Hospital, said that every five minutes, three people die from TB in India now but in 2014, one person died every minute. A total of 1223 patients have been identified in Sivasagar and 7 pc TB patients died during the COVID-19 people. Parag Goswami, president SHAPE, a leading NGO working in the health sector said 38 pc TB patients live in a few countries in SE Asia including India.
A National Tuberculosis Elimination programme was organised by the district health society, NTEP observing “World Tuberculosis Day” along with the rest of the country at the circuit house conference hall, Haflong on Friday.
The theme for World Tuberculosis Day for this year is “Yes! We can end TB!”- aims to inspire hope and encourage high-level leadership, increased investments, faster uptake of new WHO recommendations, adoption of innovations, accelerated action and multi-sectoral collaboration to combat the TB epidemic.
The programme was attended by Rebecca Changsan, ACS, deputy secretary, DHAC as chief guest along with Dr Duleswar Gogoi, joint director, DHS as the guest of honour.
Deputy secy Rebecca Changsan during her speech said that there has to be more public awareness about the devastating health, social and economic consequences of TB and to step up efforts to end the TB epidemic in all the sectors of the society to come forward in achieving the goal of a TB-free in the district along with nation by 2025.
In the programme Dr Lina Hakmaosa gave a brief speech on TB. She delivered a brief message about the cause, spread, symptoms of TB, where TB is diagnosed and treated and the fact that TB is curable. She also briefed about the preventive measures and the need to treat TB patients, as anyone who breath air is at risk for TB and everyone need to aware about TB.
The programme was also attended by Dr Lina Hakmaosa, SDM&HO, DHS, Dr Chongjaneng, dist TB Officer, Dima Hasao among others.
