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Dimapur, Jan. 21 (EMN): Considering the urgent need for prevention of tuberculosis (TB) among the people living with HIV (PLHIV) and to end TB-related deaths, ARK Foundation along with Dimapur Network of Positive People organised a treatment literacy workshop on TB preventive therapy (TPT) in the conference hall of the chief medical officer (CMO) in Dimapur on January 20.
An update from Ark Foundation stated that Dr. Susan from ITECH and Ketho Angami, president of ARK Foundation, spoke on tuberculosis and its impact on the PLHIV community.
Dr. Susan spoke on Covid-19 vaccination literacy to the participants to help them make informed decision.
Ketho Angami spoke on the concept and importance of TPT, underlining that "LTBI treatment works as prevention of active TB". He, however, lamented that the only available option of TPT in the country at present is isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT), which has failed to deliver as planned.
He apprised the participants about the availability of a new therapy in the form of 3HP, which is a weekly dose with a drug combination of Isoniazid and Rifapentine . He informed that this therapy is better than the present IPT as it is a shorter course therapy with better cure rate.
He urged the participants to disseminate information to other affected communities in order to demand 3HP in India.
As a way forward, the participants decided to conduct signature campaign as a tool to further advocate the central TB division and NACO for a national roll out without further delay.