World Health Organisation (WHO) medical consultant, Dr. Collins Z Sono, has underscored the need to increase the screening of presumptive Tuberculosis (TB) in Nagaland. A press release by the Directorate of Health & Family Welfare (DH&FW) stated that Dr. Sono was speaking at the two-day National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) review meeting cum refresher training held on May 29-30 at the Conference Hall, DH&FW.
Mentioning that in the first quarter, January-March 2024, notification achievement was 73%, he said districts like Mokokchung, Wokha, Longleng, Mon and Kiphire achieved more than an average, whereas some districts need to increase. He said the success rate is 80% and known HIV status for TB patients is 76%.
Dr. Sono said Mon district has screened more than 3500 presumptive TB, followed by Longleng district screening more than 3000 in the first quarter, January-March 2024.
He then encouraged other districts to increase the screening of presumptive TB as it was one of the most important programme indicators.
National Health Mission (NHM) mission director, Dr. Akuo Sorhie, emphasised that regular review and refresher training was very important in order to achieve the target and take the programme forward.
Dr. Sorhie stated that there was significant scale up in accessibility to diagnostic facilities and treatment services. She also encouraged the district to find more Nikshay Mitras who voluntarily provide food basket nutritional support and emotional support. She also agreed to adopt 10 TB patients.
All the district TB officers presented on different indicators like Sub-National Certification, Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (PMTBMBA), TB mukt panchayat, advocacy communication and social mobilization, private sector engagement, differentiate TB care, family caregiver, involvement of HWC in NTEP, TPT/3HP, ACF and Role of Service Providers (NGO) in NTEP.
During the refresher training of District TB Officers (DTOs) and Senior Treatment Supervisors (STSs), various new topics of the program were covered, like case concepts, the role of CDST, TPT Shorter Regime, Airborne Infection Control, ACSM, and post-treatment follow up were presented.
The programme was chaired by state TB officer, NTEP, Dr. VezokholuTheyo and attended by all the officers and staff of NTEP.