Early Times Report
DODA, Apr 4: The Union government has launched the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) with the objective of eliminating TB from the country by 2025. In this regard, a review meeting was called by Deputy Commissioner, Vishesh Mahajan, who is also chairman of the District TB Control Society for erstwhile Doda (Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban), with senior functionaries of the health department.
The DC was given a comprehensive brief of NTEP by the District TB Officer who informed that the erstwhile district has achieved 69% in Tuberculosis Unit-wise TB notification during 2022. Out of 18850 symptomatic patients tested, 738 were found positive for TB.
The DC stressed on increasing TB testing through microscopic and molecular tests and eliminating TB from the erstwhile district by the end of 2023. He emphasised random testing at jails, madrasas, educational institutions and Nari Niketans and compulsory testing of patients with co-morbidities, recent surgeries and symptomatic patients. Block Medical Officers (BMOs) were instructed to ensure microscopic testing at each health centre with a trained technician.
The DC directed BMOs to achieve targets for TB Suspect Examination Rate and TB Notification Rate by the end of June 2023. The next review meeting will be held on 1st July to assess progress and fix responsibility for any shortfall in reaching targets.
The DC also reviewed the Nikshay Poshan Yojna and Nikshay Mitra scheme and encouraged officers and the general public to adopt TB patients to help the District TB Society eliminate TB from society.
The meeting was attended by district officers including Additional District Commissioner, Chief Planning Officer, District Programme Officer Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), Chief Education Officer, Chief Medical Officers Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban; District TB Officer Kishtwar, In-Charge District TB Officer Doda, District Information Officer Doda, Block Medical Officers and other concerned officers and officials. |
