Focus on universal TB coverage, patient-centric care: Dulloo

The Government of Jammu and Kashmir today launched the Tuberculosis (TB) Elimination Action Plan with an aim to see TB free J&K by 2025.

The J&K Elimination Plan was launched by Financial Commissioner Health and Medical education, Atal Dulloo, here at Convention Centre, Jammu.

While rolling out the action plan, Atal Dullo said that the elimination of TB is a clear vision set by the Prime Minister of the country and “We have to undertake the activities under the National Strategic Plan for TB Elimination forward in a mission mode for ending the epidemic by 2025.”

He said that the goal of the government is to accelerate the universal TB coverage and preventive services. He said the objective is to promote health seeking behaviour in the community for early case detection and prevention of emergence of new cases of TB.

He emphasized on the need to ensure patient centric care and expand TB care through engagement of various stakeholders, including the community.

He said that significant progress has been made but a lot more needs to be done and government is fully committed to intensify its efforts to achieve the target by 2025.

The FC also pointed out various components for TB elimination strategy and laid stress on generation of awareness through Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilization (ACSM). He said that locals will be involved for planning for TB elimination by creating aggressive Information, Education and Communication awareness using all forms of media about TB and generating database of vulnerable populations.

The Government of India has set the target to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals related to TB by the year 2025 as against the global target of 2030. The country is implementing a National Strategic Plan 2017-25 to end TB by 2025. Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP) was launched in J&K in April 2004 and was then extended to all districts of J&K by September 2005. There are 12 District TB Centres, 104 Treatment Units and 164 Designated Microscopic Centres in J&K.

Mission Director, National Health Mission, Bhupinder Kumar presented an overview of the Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP) in J&K, while seeking cooperation from all quarters. He said that the government is looking forward to engage Panchyati Raj Institutions, Non Governmental Organizations, local bodies in health promotional activities.

He also said that TB control requirements have been integrated into the four strategic pillars of "Find- Treat-Prevent-Build" and everyone is expected to play his part in eliminating this menace that kills more than 4 lakh persons every year in India.

During the programme, Continued Medical Education on RNTCP updates was also held, in which experts from Central TB Division, Delhi State, and State of Telangana, shared their experiences.

Others who were present at the launching ceremony included Director Health Services Jammu, Renu Sharma; Director Indian System of Medicine J&K Mohan Singh; Director Family Welfare J&K Arun Sharma; Deputy Director General Central TB Division, K S Sachdeva; Principal Government Medical College Jammu Sunanda Raina; Mission Director, National Health Mission, Telangana, Yogita Rana; State Tuberculosis Officer, Delhi, Ashwini Khanna and Medical Superintendents, Chief Medical Officers and other Tuberculosis Officers.

(Courtesy: Rising Kashmir)

Rising Kashmir