Dimapur, July 18 (EMN): The Access to Rights and Knowledge Foundation has demanded the government on Tuesday to immediately terminate the District TB Officer of Tuensang who have been found to be absent from work leading malpractices and failure of the TB programme in Tuensang district and a series of other corrective measure to be implemented by the government .
A press release from Ketho Angami, the president of ARK Foundation has stated that,"The absconding officer has the audacity to withdraw her monthly salary inspite of not attending to her duty except on world TB day which falls on 24th March each year during this period of her repeated absence, the staffs at the TB centre has started to levy a sum of Rs 10/- per patient for baseless reasons such as stationary expenses that are incurred. According to the information received, this was taxed to the patients during the time of enrolment for sputum examination."
He further stated that the officer was unaware of such happenings in the centre. Thereafter, he claimed that their organisation had made public about the absence of the officer during the world TB day on March 24, 2017, but received no positive response from the concerned department.
It again wrote to the State’s Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program on June 23, 2017 apprised them the money that was levied from the patients and also about the irregularity of the laboratory technician without any response.
He also stated that the matter was even discussed with the CMO on two different occasions.
"Mentioned[sic] may be made that this[sic] issues were discussed during the district level meeting on two occasions on the 20 September and 18 November 2016 at the office of the CMO, Tuensang." he stated in the press release.
He also stated that the matter was also made know to the Central TB division, Delhi that there was no response from it. .
TB drug shortage was reported was also reported on the July 14 and that the patients are buying the Anti Tubercular (ATT) Drugs from a private chemist that “totally violates the claim of the TB program which says Directly Observed Treatment, Short Course (DOTS) are free”.
The organisation therefore demanded to "Immediately terminate the service of the erring District TB officer and replace her with a more responsible officer; To develop a proper supply chain mechanism of drugs so that stock out issues are addressed; and To provide details of the total amount levied upon the patients, since its inception and the manner in which the money were spent."
