Nagaland Governor distributes nutritional supplements to TB patients

DIMAPUR — Nagaland Governor La. Ganesan on Saturday distributed nutritional supplements baskets to tuberculosis (TB) patients as part of Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, a programme launched by President Droupadi Murmu in 2022 to eliminate the disease from the country by 2025.

Speaking at the event held in Dr. Imkongliba Ao Hall, Raj Bhavan, Kohima, the governor said India has highest cases of TB in the world with an estimated 26 lakh people contracting the disease and approximately 4 lakh people dying from the disease every year.

He said the economic effect of TB in terms of loss of lives, income and workdays is also substantial, according to an update from PRO Raj Bhavan.

The disease usually affects the most economically productive age group of society, resulting in a significant loss of working days and pushing the patients further into the vortex of poverty, he told the gathering.

Ganesan said the challenge of TB requires a multi-sectoral response- to address the social determinants like nutritional support, living and working conditions, and an increase in access to diagnostic and treatment services. He added that communities and civil societies can help address social determinants.

The MoHFW is implementing community support to TB patients by welcoming citizens to come forward as doners, he said, adding that the programme include co-operative societies, corporate, elected representatives, individuals, institutions, non-governmental organisations, political parties and partners who can support by adopting health facilities or patients for accelerating response against TB to complement government efforts.

The governor, who is also a doner, expressed happiness that the officers and staff at the Raj Bhavan have come forward to join the programme.

Stressing the need to create awareness programmes to encourage more doners in future, he called upon the department as well as the TB cells across Nagaland to be more proactive and help achieve the national target.

Rajesh Soundararajan, Secretary to the governor, said that the programme was not just about handing over of nutritional supplements to TB patients but also to create more awareness and encourage citizens to come forward as doners.

He also disclosed the names of 17 officers and staff at the Raj Bhavan who had joined the governor to support the programme as doners.

District TB Officer, Kohima, Dr. Chiben Kithan said in his opening address that the programme was launched in the state capital in September 2022. He also said community support will help reduce stigma, while acknowledging the governor’s efforts towards the TB eliminate programme.