Nagaland: Longleng releases strategic plan to eliminate TB by 2025

Dimapur, Aug. 26 (EMN): Longleng district health society and National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) released the ‘District strategic plan for TB-free Longleng by 2025’ during a programme held in the conference hall of the deputy commissioner’s office in Longleng town on August 26.

The deputy commissioner of Longleng, Dharam Raj, who officially released the booklet, has congratulated the district health society and NTEP, Longleng, for coming up with the strategic plan for TB-free Longleng by 2025. He expressed gratitude to the medical team for their initiative and concern for the people of Longleng, stated a DIPR report.

While pointing out that strategic plan is required before any battle, Dharam Raj stated that action plan is essential to achieve a complete eradication of the disease from the district. He appealed to the stakeholders to come forward and extend their cooperation and support to the medical team in carrying out the strategic plan smoothly to achieve the goal.

“The strategic plan is not only for the present but also for our future generation,” he maintained.

The DC also stated that due to prolonged use of medication for TB treatment, some patients avoid/ skip regular medication leading to drug-resistant TB to extremely drug-resistant TB threatening and ending their life. In this regard, he informed the medical team to give proper instruction and awareness to TB patients.

The chief medical officer (CMO) of Longleng, Dr. Obangjungla, informed that Longleng is the first district to release the district strategic plan for TB-free district in the state. She has acknowledged the sincere efforts of Dr. Temsusashi, district TB officer of Longleng.

She informed that due to stigmatisation, people seldom come forward for TB testing and suggested transparency in carrying out the strategic plan. She further highlighted the incentives and other benefits provided by the government to TB patients besides free testing and treatment.

The medical superintendent of District Hospital, Longleng, asserted that the medical team alone cannot achieve the target without the active participation and support of the churches, NGOs, and civil societies. He has sought the participation of all the stakeholders to disseminate information in their respective localities down to the grassroots to fulfill the plan.

The chairperson of the programme, Dr. Temsusashi, who also delivered the keynote address, informed that the alarming figure of morbidity and mortality of TB in India gave birth to the Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP) pilot project in 1993. He added that in 1997, RNTCP was launched as a national programme with a plan to scale up in a phase manner covering the entire country by 2006.

Dr. Temsusashi also informed that the Central TB Division, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, has developed the National Strategic Plan to end TB by 2025.