Calls for stronger screening and diagnostic measures
DIMAPUR: The State TB Cell under the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare, Nagaland held its quarterly review meeting for the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) on September 3 at the Directorate’s conference hall in Kohima.
Delivering the welcome address and introductory remarks, State TB Officer (STO) Dr. Akum Jamir outlined the key programmes being implemented by NTEP Nagaland alongside the rollout of the 100 Days Campaign. He appreciated the district teams’ adaptability in preparing strategic plans on short notice and stressed the importance of the quarterly review meeting.
Dr. Jamir contextualized the ongoing effort within global and national health frameworks, reminding participants that public health policies align directly with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 3, which focuses on Good Health and Well-Being. He highlighted India’s disproportionate burden, noting that the country accounts for roughly 28% of the global TB burden despite comprising only 17% of the world’s population. This stark ratio underscores the critical need for aggressive elimination strategies at both national and state levels.
While the national target set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi aimed for TB elimination by 2025, Dr. Jamir acknowledged that global setbacks, particularly disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, impacted progress. He emphasized that the programme is receiving unprecedented top-tier administrative oversight, with reviews now routinely conducted directly from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) through regular monitoring of Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS), of which NTEP is a part.
Following high-level meetings involving state Chief Secretaries, enhanced monitoring frameworks have been instituted down to the block level. Prabhari Nodal Officers have been entrusted to visit individual blocks and districts to oversee execution. Dr. Jamir informed that State Chief Secretaries are tasked with reviewing execution and monitoring targets every five months to resolve operational bottlenecks promptly.
Reflecting on the evolution from the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) to the current NTEP framework, Dr. Jamir highlighted significant diagnostic upgrades across healthcare units. The strategy has shifted toward rapid molecular diagnostic testing and early detection, with X-ray machines and advanced diagnostic equipment being positioned at block and district levels. Sputum microscopy is increasingly utilized primarily for follow-ups, while chest X-rays and rapid molecular tests serve as front-line tools when symptoms appear.
He further informed that screening strategies are prioritizing high-risk and vulnerable populations—particularly individuals aged 14 and older—while integrating modern predictive digital tools within the Ni-kshay platform to prevent adverse outcomes. Dr. Jamir called upon medical officers, technical staff, and administrative teams to maintain momentum, emphasizing that continuous screening and systematic testing remain Nagaland’s primary pathway toward achieving TB elimination goals.
Meanwhile, WHO Consultant, Dr. Collins Z Sono, updated participants about the TB Mukt Abhiyan and shared the State-Level TB Reduction Progress (2015–2024). Nagaland achieved a 19% reduction in TB incidence rate and an 18% reduction in TB mortality. Comparatively, India recorded a 21% reduction in incidence and a 25% reduction in mortality nationally in 2024.
For the way forward, Dr. Sono mandated health officials to set weekly screening and treatment targets, maximize diagnostic facilities, and enforce real-time data entry in the Ni-kshay portal.
During the meeting, district strategic plans were shared by district officials, followed by discussions on ACSM, drugs, NGOs and X-rays. The meeting concluded with Director of Medical Education, Department of Health and Family Welfare Nagaland, Dr. Puse Liegise, pronouncing the vote of thanks.