Dimapur, Mar. 6 (EMN): Alleging lukewarm approach in working with the vulnerable communities by the state’s RNTCP programme, Access to Rights and Knowledge (ARK) and Kripa Foundation undertook the task to conduct a one-day “community consultation and treatment literacy on TB” at the Kripa Foundation project office, D Block in Kohima, on March 6 on the theme “Engaging the communities toward TB response.”
Speaking at the programme, ARK president Ketho Angami lamented about the lack of proper diagnostic and treatment facility for TB patients in the state. Mentioning that only a proper diagnosis will lead to the right treatment, he has insisted empowering the community with the knowledge of TB in order to eradicate TB in the country.
“It is time for the vulnerable community to start addressing these advocacy issues, and that people should no more die of an infection which is curable,” stated Ketho.
Giving an overview of the TB background, he mentioned that it can infect anyone who has been in close contact to a person with active TB case, but more prominently in the case of a PLHIV and drug users as a result of their immune suppression.
He called upon the participants to work in close collaboration with the state’s implementing department. He also urged the participants to strengthen the concerted efforts made by the NGOs and the vulnerable communities towards eliminating TB in the state.
He also gave a brief presentation on the types of TB, such as LTBI, Regular TB, MDRTB, its cause and signs and symptoms.
Renbo, from ARK Foundation, deliberated on the diagnosis and treatment aspect of the different types of TB starting from pulmonary TB to XDRTB. The resource person stated that treatment will be based on the type of TB infection with different duration and regimes for different forms of TB. He also put special emphasise on LTBI, which is mostly common in PLHIV and for which IPT has to be initiated for a period of 6 months as per the RNTCP’s initiative.
He however mentioned that Nagaland do not have proper infrastructure and machineries thereby resulting in lack of proper diagnosis and treatment.
Under the given situation, he stated that people continue to die in spite of curable medicines being available. In conclusion, he highlighted on some of the side effects of TB medications and also encouraged people on treatment to complete their treatment, without which the TB condition becomes more complicated to be diagnosed and treated.
While expressing happiness on the programme, Abou Mere, director of Kripa Foundation, has stressed on the need to empower and engage the community. He urged the participants to equip themselves with the knowledge and continue working on TB, HIV/AIDS, and viral Hepatitis C. He also called upon the group- comprising of drug users, PLHIV, PLHCV, and his project staff- to prepare themselves on the subject matter as TB and Hepatitis programmes might come in a bigger and more aggressive manner, whereby the state government will need the support of the NGOs and CBOs.
He concluded by lauding the programme initiatives undertaken by ARK and Kripa Foundation as partners.
