DC reviews TB Cases, treatment protocols in Poonch

Poonch : Deputy Commissioner Vikas Kundal on Saturday convened a meeting to review the current status of TB cases and the implementation of treatment protocols under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP) in Poonch District.
The meeting revealed critical insights into the number of reported TB cases, Human Resources (HR) status, condition of advanced testing laboratories, sputum examination results, treatment statuses, and overall incidence rates. The review underscored the urgency of timely diagnosis and strict adherence to treatment protocols to effectively manage and reduce the spread of this contagious disease.
During the discussions, the Deputy Commissioner stressed the necessity of organizing awareness IEC (Information, Education, and Communication) activities on Tuberculosis. He urged the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) to ensure effective case detection and engage community support in the fight against TB.
Additionally, the need for involving Nikshay Mitras to provide nutritional support to all TB patients during their treatment was highlighted as a key initiative to enhance patient care.
To further strengthen the TB management strategy, the Deputy Commissioner directed the PPM to conduct regular visits to all blocks once every 15 days. These visits will facilitate meetings with doctors to ensure proper notification and testing of TB cases.
A significant decision made during the meeting was the directive to the CMO to install the True NAAT (Nucleic Acid Amplification Test) in Block Mandi within the next month. This installation aims to simplify and expedite TB testing for the local population.
The meeting was attended by key health officials, including the Chief Medical Officer, Medical Superintendent, Deputy CMO, District Tuberculosis Officer, WHO Consultant, and Block Medical Officers (BMOs), along with other concerned stakeholders.