World Tuberculosis Day 2024 was observed at District Hospital Noklak today on the theme ‘Yes! We can end TB’ under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme.
During the event, Dr Tsongnya, Medical Officer, District Hospital, Noklak highlighted the significance of World TB Day. He briefed on the discovery of TB bacteria by Robert Koch on this day in the year 1882, the discovery of a compound called Streptomycin Dr Selman Waksman in 1943 and the cure of the first human TB patient in 1949.
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Dr Tsongnya further informed that the World Health Organization (WHO) targets to eliminate TB by 2030 while India aims to eradicate TB in the country by 2025. Accordingly, programmes have been initiated by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India including Nikshay Poshan Yojana under which Rs 500 per month is given TB patients under government set up to buy nutritious food, he said.
Dr Tsongnya, Medical Officer, District Hospital, Noklak (Top)
Menlom, EAC, Noklak asserted on why TB is concerning to the society and remarked that World TB Day should be a day to create awareness. He apprised that India has the highest number of cases of TB in a global context and that it targets to eliminate TB by 2025 and he strongly stressed that only through creating awareness can this target be achieved. TB death rate is higher than AIDS which is a concerning global issue, he highlighted and called for collective efforts for TB elimination.
Dr Victor N C, CMO cum MS In-charge, DH Noklak (Left) and Menlom, EAC, Noklak (Right)
Dr Victor N C, CMO cum MS In-charge, DH Noklak informed that TB is a pandemic as declared by WHO which alongside HIV is the leading cause of death in the world. He urged any TB patients to get treatment as early as possible. TB Treatment Centre in Noklak is designated microscopy centre (DMC), he informed.
Dr Victor explained that TB can be either symptomatic or asymptomatic and said that symptomatic TB and HIV co-infection has very high mortality rate. Data of 2019-2020 shows 19% increase in TB cases but TB is curable with treatment, he said.
Stating that Noklak Medical departments faces challenges of manpower, Dr Victor appealed for support from the NGPs, students, churches to accelerate the mission for TB eradication.
As part of the World TB Day, a one-minute video testimony from Health Wellness Centre (HWC), Langnok village was displayed. Out of 12 HWC in Noklak, HWC Langnok was awarded for its contributions for a TB-Free India.
The programme held at the CMO Conference Hall was chaired by Heme Lam, ARTC, Noklak, invocation was pronounced by Amen, DH Noklak and vote of thanks was delivered by Russel, MTS, Noklak.
