487 TB patients registered for nutritional support in Rajouri

Rajouri: Deputy Commissioner Rajouri, Vikas Kundal, on Monday called for effective implementation of the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) to achieve elimination of the disease in the district by 2025 in consonance with the national target.
He was chairing a meeting of the members of the District Tuberculosis Forum convened to discuss action plan for effective implementation of the program.
The meeting was attended by the CPO, Mohammad Khurshid; Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Rajinder Sharma; MS DH, Dr. Mehmood Bajar; DTO, Dr. Khalid Mansoor and other concerned officers.
The meeting was apprised of the composition, objectives, and working of the TB Forum, and the achievements made under NTEP in the district. The meeting served as a platform to discuss different kinds of services being provided by the government to the masses under the National Tuberculosis Elimination programme.
Tuberculosis is a priority disease that has been targeted for elimination in India by 2025, and community-led participation is an essential component to achieve the target within the stipulated time frame.
The Deputy Commissioner emphasized the stakeholders to work in tandem for the effective implementation of the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme in the district.
The attendees were informed that as of 30 June 2023, a total of 427 TB patients have been notified in the district under the NTEP. Additionally, a total of 9,528 persons have been examined for sputum, and 1,022 CBNAAT tests, 1,667 Truenat tests, and 2,689 molecular tests have been done in the district under the NTEP.
The Deputy Commissioner urged the stakeholder to make concerted efforts to achieve 100 percent eradication of tuberculosis in the district. He stressed the importance of remaining in touch with tuberculosis patients and providing them with the best possible healthcare services so that they do not face any inconveniences.
The Deputy Commissioner also highlighted the importance of effective implementation of the Nikshya Poshan Yojana, a scheme aimed at providing nutritional support to TB patients. As of now, 487 patients have been registered under Nikshya Mitra.
The Deputy Commissioner called for mobilization and intensification of Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) activities to raise awareness about the disease and the measures to control and prevent it. Early detection and testing of patients suffering from TB is crucial in ensuring the timely elimination of the disease from the district. The Deputy Commissioner called for increasing the testing rate of high-risk groups so that they can be provided with necessary treatment in time.
In conclusion, the meeting served as a reminder of the government’s commitment to eliminating tuberculosis from the country and the crucial role of community-led participation in achieving this goal.