Nagaland & Arunachal Pradesh Governor, P.B. Acharya in his message on the occasion of ‘World TB Day’ observed on March 24, appealed to all concerned departments, civil society, NGOs, student organisations, etc. to create awareness and ‘Unite to end TB. He said the occasion was designed to build public awareness that tuberculosis today remains an epidemic in much of the world, causing the deaths of nearly one-and-a-half million people each year, mostly in developing countries. Acharya called upon organised groups like e-service men, university students, Bharat Scouts & Guides, Red Cross Society and enlightened citizens to come forward in their individual/organisational capacities to banish TB as a National Agenda.
He said in a democracy it was not only the government but also individuals/groups that play a role in nation building.
Though TB is a completely curable disease, at very low-cost through Directly Observed Treatment Short Course (DOTS) treatment administered by the government, Acharya however said treatments and diagnostic tests should be made accessible to every person affected by TB.
He lamented that India has a huge burden of the TB cases (2.2milion develop each year with estimated death of 220000 people), and called upon all to take measures to prevent spread of TB.
He also pointed out that five percent of TB patients in North East die annually on an average. “These data clearly indicate that we need to take more steps to eradicate this killing ailment from the world,” Acharya added.