ITANAGAR, Mar 24: Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lt. General KT Parnaik, PVSM, UYSM, YSM (Retd.) participated in the World Tuberculosis Day observation by attending the One World TB Summit 2023 at Varanasi through virtual participation today. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the summit.
The Governor appealed to the people of Arunachal Pradesh to put in a concerted effort to realize the ambitious goal of ‘TB Mukt Bharat’ by 2025. He said that it should be a ‘Jan Andolan’, i.e. people’s movement and not just confined to medical officials.
The Governor also exhorted the people to adopt TB patients and provide financial contributions to support dietary requirements of TB patients as prescribed under the ‘Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan’. A small contribution towards social causes today will go a long way in making Arunachal Pradesh Tuberculosis free, he said.
The World TB Day was observed by the District Health Society (NTEP), Lower Dibang Valley district at Anpum village under Paglam circle and at all the Health and Wellness Centres in the district with great enthusiasm. 
A public awareness meeting on TB was conducted at Anpum, which was attended by ZPM ( Bomjir- Anpum block) Obinam Ratan, GPC Gopal Pertin, DMO Dr. Tajing Taki, among others.
During the meeting, GPC Gopal Pertin appreciated the health department for organizing such awareness meeting in their village to spread awareness message on TB. He also requested the gathering to come forward if anyone had symptoms of TB and report it immediately to the medical staff. He also spoke on the TB treatment facilities provided at door step by the health department and appealed to the gathering to avail these facilities.
TB Champion of Bizari village Atom Numi, also expressed his experience and services received from the health department.
Dr. Tajing Taki informed the gathering that the DHS (NTEP) is providing free investigation and diagnosis of TB treatment alongwith financial incentive of Rs 500 per month to the notified TB patients for Nutritional Support for their healthy diet under Niskhay Poshan Yojana and Rs 750 on completion of treatment under Tribal TB patient. He also urged the audience to convey the message on treatment facilities provided to the TB patients.
DTO cum DACO Dr. S. J. Mitapo explained about the aims and objectives of observing World TB Day and the NTEP programme with the theme “Yes! We Can End TB”. He explained about TB and its Diagnosis and Treatment under NTEP Programme.  He also informed the gathering about various schemes for beneficiaries (Nutritional Support under Niskhay Poshan Yojana and Tribal TB patients, Nik-shay Mitras, Treatment Supporters) etc. available under the programme. 
Osinam Jomang was felicitated as the best DOT provider of the area.  
Rono Hills: MLA Tana Hali Tara volunteered as a Nikshay Mitra and adopted 10 TB patients during the World TB day,  observed by the District Health Society, Papum Pare in collaboration with the State Health Society and the Social Works Department, RGU at RGU mini Auditorium on Friday.
Nikshay Mitras is a programme launched in September 2022 which allows individuals and organizations to adopt TB patients and provide them assistance in the form of nutritional supplies and vocational trainings.
Speaking on the occasion, MLA Tara called for collective efforts from all the stakeholders for eliminating TB.
He stressed on maintaining personal hygiene, keeping the surroundings clean, adopting healthy food habits and intensifying awareness activities on TB to win the fight over TB.
Delivering the keynote address Dr. P.D Thongchi, DTO informed that “To accelerate the elimination of TB by 2025 Govt. of India has developed a National Strategic Plan (NSP) 2017-2025 five years ahead of the Global Strategic Development Goal (SDG) for elimination of TB by 2030. 
“Every year 24th March is observed as the World TB Day to commemorate the discovery of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Bacillus the causative organism for Tuberculosis by Sir Robert Henrich Herman Koch, who was a German Scientist on 24th March 1882, and also to inspire and encourage high level leadership and accelerated action and multi-sectoral collaborations to combat the TB epidemic,” he further informed.
Dr.Kabak Tamar, Medical Officer TB Control  Unit  Itanagar presented a PowerPoint on the district TB profile and various welfare measures rolled out by the government for the TB patients.
Presenting the district profile  Dr. Tamar informed that “In 2022 out of the 3396 sputum samples collected, 375 were found to be positive; which amounts to 11%. Although all the patients are undergoing treatment, moral support from family and friends is very necessary for the patients to be completely cured of the  disease.”
Itanagar MLA Techi Kaso and VC RGU Prof. Saket Kushwaha, although not present in the program, adopted 10 and 2 TB patients respectively. MLA Tana Hali Tara  handed over food baskets to all the adopted TB patients.
As a part of the programme nursing students from Arunachal State Nursing College and Zion Institute of Nursing presented skits on creating awareness about TB.
The TB champions (persons cured of TB) also shared their experiences and expressed gratitude to the government for providing free care and medicines for the TB patients.
To mark the day a Free Screening programme for TB, HIV and Diabetes was also conducted.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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