Strategic plan for TB free Longleng launched

A “district strategic plan for TB free Longleng” was released by deputy commissioner (DC) Longleng, Dharam Raj on Friday, in the conference hall of the DC. The strategic plan was launched under District Health Society (DHS) and National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) Longleng.
According to a DIPR report, DC Dharam Raj lauded DHS and NTEP Longleng for coming up with the strategic plan for TB free Longleng by 2025 and extended gratitude to the medical team for their concern. He pointed out that a strategic plan was required before any battle and similarly, elimination action plan was essential to achieve a complete eradication of the disease in the district. DC, therefore, appealed to the stakeholders to extend their cooperation to the medical team in carrying out the strategic plan smoothly.
Dharam Raj stated that due to prolonged use of medication for TB treatment, some patients avoided or skipped regular medication leading to drug-resistant TB to extremely drug-resistant TB threatening and ending their life.
In this regard, he informed the medical team to give proper instruction and awareness to TB patients.
In her address, chief medical officer (CMO) Longleng, Dr. Obangjungla informed that Longleng was the first district to release the district strategic plan for TB free district in the state and acknowledged the efforts of Longleng district TB officer, Dr. Temsusashi.
She informed that due to stigmatisation, people seldom came forward for TB testing when approached and suggested transparency in carrying out the strategic plan.
In a short speech, medical superintendent, District Hospital Longleng said the medical team alone would not achieve the target without active participation from churches, NGOs and civil societies.
In this regard, he said a mass awareness was required from all the stakeholders to disseminate to their respective community down to the grassroots level.
Earlier, chairperson, Dr. Temsusashi informed that the alarming figure of morbidity and mortality of TB in India gave birth to the Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP) pilot project in 1993.
Later, in 1997, RNTCP was launched as a national programme with a plan to scale up in a phase manner covering the entire country by 2006. Meanwhile, Central TB Division, ministry of Health & Family Welfare has developed the National Strategic Plan to end TB by 2025.