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Our Correspondent
Kohima, Aug. 11 (EMN): The State Tuberculosis Forum (STF) has advocated organising sensitisation programmes to eliminate tuberculosis from India by 2025 as envisaged by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.
The issue was taken up for discussion during a meeting held in the conference hall of the commissioner and secretary of Health and Family Welfare’s office in Kohima on Thursday. The meeting was presided over by the secretary of Health and Family Welfare, Asangla Imti, which was attended by officials from the Health department and other partners.
The objective of TB Forum was presented by Dr. Collins Z Sono, WHO medical consultant, wherein he highlighted that the Prime Minister of India launched the TB-free India campaign during ‘Delhi End TB Summit’ on March13, 2018.
While the campaign called for a social movement focused on patient-centric and holistic care driven by integrated actions for TB-free India, he stated that the union health minister launched the “TB Harega Desh Jeetega” campaign on September 25, 2019, to reinforce the efforts to “End TB by 2025.
He pointed out that patient-centred and community TB-led responses are key to success of the health programme adding that the TB forum envisaged empowering and engaging TB affected communities by being a voice of the affected community on challenges faced by TB patients in accessing services.
The consultant stated that the TB forum would act as bridge between community, TB patient, health system and CSOs along with advocacy activities to influence policy changes for accessible, affordable and supportive TB-services. He asserted that the forum comprised of 10-15 members from different sectors (persons affected by TB/ TB champions, CSOs, media, government officials, key stakeholders etc).
“The objective of the forum is to engage with policymakers and implementers to ensure justice, rights and dignity of TB patients for effective service delivery,” said Dr. Sono adding that it was to supplement and complement government initiatives to enforce TB patient-friendly law, policy and programmes.
According to Dr. Sono, the forum aims to reduce stigma and discrimination and ensure social security of TB patients, survivors and their families; to improve awareness on various government schemes, provisions, and facilities available for TB patients and to improve treatment literacy and adherence among TB patients.
The official also stated that the forum would advise on strategies for engaging communities affected by TB and increasing community participation in TB programmes through network formation, to periodically review progress of involvement of community networks, highlighting the concerns and needs of TB patients, to work with stakeholders to develop better, and more responsive health services.
He also pointed out that the forum would strive for greater and more equitable access to quality, accurate and independent information for patients in enabling a dialogue between all stakeholders, government agencies, medical associations, industry, insurance companies, private providers and diagnostic centres and manage resources to sustain and accelerate TB prevention, control, care and treatment services through community engagement. Besides, it would facilitate nutritional support, linkages with social welfare schemes, rehabilitation of several TB patients.
The highlight and review of the first TB Forum and the action taken was presented by Dr. Aphichetla Amer, APO, while two TB champions (who recovered from the disease) shared their testimonies.