District tuberculosis forum Longleng meeting was held at DC’s conference hall on June 28.
In a press release, district media officer Roseline informed that while delivering the keynote address, district tuberculosis officer (NTEP) Longleng, Dr Temsusashi gave a brief introduction on how TB was manifested and treated.
He spoke on the government’s policy in implementing a national strategic plan to end tuberculosis by 2025, which was launched by prime minister Narendra Modi in March 2018.
Citing the target set by the government, Dr Temsusashi gave a detailed presentation on the objectives of district TB forum, notification performance, signs and symptoms of TB in adults and children, specific district plans to eliminate TB from the district.
He informed that an increase in awareness and sensitisation through NGOs, enhancing of programme staff, sensitisation training for NTEP staff, medical officers and ASHAs would be put forth. DTO also appealed to all the NGOs to come together and fight to eliminate TB from Longleng district. At the meeting, the house resolved to include all the religious leaders in Longleng district as members of the district TB forum and to instruct all the villages to form village TB committee in order to have effective community participation and a sense of ownership in the fight towards eliminating TB from Longleng district
While delivering a short speech, DC and chairman district TB forum M Shayung Phom congratulated DTO and his team for the activities taken up by NTEP in the district. He also encouraged the NGOs and ward representatives who attended the meeting to give proper awareness and disseminate the information so that people from the far flung areas and villages could avail the services from the DOT centre.
DC also requested everyone to give detailed information during awareness that the medicines were free of cost, to inform TB clients that once they start the medication they had to complete the full course.
He also challenged everyone to come forward and join hands so that in a year or two Longleng district could be declared as “TB free”. Earlier, speeches were delivered Dr. Kibangkumba medical superintendent district hospital and Henmei TB health visitor. During the discussion, representative from TB patient community also shared the testimony. The meeting was chaired by STS, NTEP Tongang.