CoNE kick starts month-long campaign for identifying TB cases among socially vulnerable group
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 12 2023:
The Community Network for Empowerment (CoNE) in Association with State TB Cell, Manipur launched a month-long Active Case Finding (ACF) campaign of TB among socially vulnerable groups today at Vision of Hope Drugs and Alcohol De Addiction Treatment Centre, Khonghampat.
According to a statement issued by RK Nalinikanta, President, CoNE, the pilot initiative was launched with an aim to help reduce diagnosis and treatment delays and prevent the spread of tuberculosis and thereby contribute to the Government's effort to eliminate TB by 2025 .
Thirty-six inmates of Vision of Hope Drugs and Alcohol De Addiction Treatment Centre were provided diagnosis and treatment facilities.
Briefing media persons at the sidelines of the campaign, CoNE president RK Nalinikanta informed that community-based active casefinding (ACF) have important impacts on routine TB casedetection and subsequent patient-initiated diagnosis pathways, contributing to infectious diseases prevention and care.
RK Nalinikanta stated that with 1400 people killed every year by TB in India, it continues to be the severest health crisis despite TB control activities for more than 50 years.
He further informed that since the drug users community who are undergoing treatment at drug de-addiction centre also falls under the socially vulnerable and clinically high risk groups, CoNE has tied up with the State TB Cell and launched the AFC of TB among this group so as to contribute to the Government's effort of eliminating TB by 2025.K Deben.
Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilization Officer, State TB Cell, Lamphelpat also provided awareness on the basics of TB and informed that the State TB Cell has organised many ACF in the State, however, this is the first time that the State TB Cell in association with CoNE has initiated a month-long campaign among the drug users community.
It may be noted that a total of four campaigns will be conducted in different drug de-addiction centres located in Imphal East and Imphal West as part of this ACF campaign of TB.
Depending on the result of the experimental trial, it has been agreed that the same initiative will be further expanded in other districts of the State.