A total 15,679 persons in the state were suspected to have infected with tuberculosis in 2015 and out of which 3376 initiated treatment.
This was revealed by State TB officer Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP) Dr. K.T. Lotha on the occasion of World Tuberculosis Day, which was held at Kohima Press Club conference hall here Thursday.
The programme organized by RNTCP in collaboration with Nagaland user net and Vihaan/NNP+ was held observed on the theme “unite to end TB”. Highlighting the scenario of TB in the state, Dr.Lotha said out of 3376 registered TB patients, 2272 (82%) knew their HIV status.
Under this, he said Longleng was the highest- with total 54 registered TB patients (100% known HIV status) followed by Phek 115 (95%), Zunheboto 152 (92%), Mokokchung 219 (89%), Kohima 409 (87%), Wokha 150 (87%), Peren 118 (86%), Mon 491 (85%), Kiphire 148 (83%), Dimapur 1006 (80%) and Tuensang 514 (67%).
Since its inception from October 2003 till 2015, Dr. Lotha said that out of 1, 54,968 examined 40,562 patients initiated treatment and TB HIV co-infected (2008-2015) were 1139 and under programmatic management of drug resistant tuberculosis (PMDT) (2012-15) 471 patients were diagnosed.
He said the case detection rate recorded in the entire State was 89 per cent and success rate was 92 per cent as against a target of 85 per cent. He further said that Nagaland has consistently been in the target zone for the last four years.
Assistant programme officer RNTCP Dr. Apichelatla, while speaking on the significance of the day, said that March 24 has been observed as World TB day every year to create public awareness on the disease. She said TB is the world’s leading infectious killer disease and more women died of TB every year than all cases of maternal mortality combined. Informing that three TB patients died every minute; she said it was however preventable and curable.
Coordinator NUN Ketho Angami in his address said TB, being the air borne disease, was more vulnerable than HIV and needed political will to fight against it. He also lamented on the shortage of required equipments and delayed in releasing of fund by the state government. Additional director DHFW Dr. Sweyievisa John also addressed the gathering.
Later, at the panel discussion, Dr. K.T. Lotha, Visevinuo and Ketho Angami highlighted on the various difficulties faced by the stakeholders, concern department, shortage of equipments, for non-releasing of fund in time by the state government, its plan and strategy, progress and achievements and others. The programme was chaired by Visevinuo HIV/TB coordinator Vihaan /NNP+.
Earlier, before the commencement of the formal programme, to create awareness on TB, “The Naga Blog cycling Club” (TNBCC) team conducted cycle rally led by Tenyebinlo Himb in the main town area.
5% TB patients die in NE annually
IANS Adds: On an average, five percent of tuberculosis (TB) patients die each year in North Eastern region, an expert said on Thursday.
“On an average, five percent of the total TB patients die in northeast India every year. The national average is also the same,” TB expert Babul Das told IANS.
Das, who has attended many national and international scientific and medical events on TB, while quoting the World TB report 2015, said India continues to account for 23 percent of the global TB burden.
“Each year, about 2.2 million people develop TB in India and an estimated 220,000 people expire due to the disease which clearly explains that more steps must be taken to check the ailment,” he said.
The expert said that in most cases, due to lack of awareness and treatment, TB turned into cancer and HIV-positive, and many patients also die of a heart attack.
World TB Day was observed on Thursday across the northeast. Seminars, workshops and awareness rallies were held.
Das, who is also associated with the Tripura health department, said that last year (2015), as many as 2,528 TB patients were diagnosed and put under treatment in Tripura.
“In 2015, at least 11 people died due to TB in Tripura. The success rate in the state is 89 percent,” he added.
In Aizawl, Mizoram Health Minister Lal Thanzara said that at least 38 people died due to TB in his state last year.
“In 2015, around 2,090 people were found to be carrying the disease. Over 84 percent of TB patients were cured after treatment in the state last year,” the minister said at a function held on the occasion of World TB Day.
He said that many modern equipment and machinery have been installed in district hospitals in Mizoram to treat TB patients.