PASIGHAT, Jul 13: Headquarters ADC Tatdo Borang advised the DTO (TB) to continue mobilizing all stakeholders of East Siang district to eliminate tuberculosis (TB) and make East Siang a TB-free district.
Addressing the first meeting of the District Tuberculosis Forum here on Friday, the ADC stressed the need to have “a plan of action that ensures that every TB patient has access to quality diagnosis and treatment,” and the need to adopt a “patient-centric approach.”
Among others, DMO Dr Kaling Dai, DTO (TB) Dr Taken Siram, MS (BPGH) Dr YR Darang, DRCHO Dr T Gao, pathologist Dr Kaling Jerang, former ZPC Kaling Dai, doctors, medical staff and three cured TB patients attended the meeting, so that they may later spearhead advocacy, outreach and patient support activities at the community level.
The DMO said “timely diagnosis, counselling and support could ensure proper treatment and complete cure of TB,” and that a “sense of ownership and public participation are also essential to contain TB.”
Dr Darang said TB is “absolutely curable,” and offered tips for healthy living, while Dr Siram made a PowerPoint presentation on “the key aspects of the RNTCP, with focus on the TB situation in East Siang and strategies for eliminating TB in the district.”
He informed that the Centre has announced its aim to eliminate TB from the country by 2025. (DIPRO)
