Meeting on "TB Free Senapati Project" held
Source: The Sangai Express

Senapati, March 13 2023: In a bid to engage students and women organisations to improve TB case finding and treatment adherence, a joint meeting on "TB Free Senapati Project" was held today at DRDA Conference Hall, Senapati.

Representatives of District TB Department, ICMR-NIRT, Chennai, Directorate of Health Service, NHM Senapati and CSOs of the district took part in the meeting.

The programme was conducted under the initiative of NTEP, Senapati, ICMR-NIRT, Chennai, Directorate of Health Service, and NHM Senapati.

Speaking on the occasion, Peter Yonuo, president Senapati District Students Association stated that such projects will ensure Senapati becomes TB Free by reaching out to far flung areas of the district.

Dr A Stephen, Scientist, ICMR-NIRT, Chennai shared that the Senapati District Model Project will involve student and women organisations as volunteers to help in TB case finding in their respective villages, collect sputum and help monitor treatment adherence.

He stated that the volunteers will also conduct door-to-door visits, screening for TB and transport collected sputum to the NTEP centre for testing.

Highlighting the importance of the project, the doctor said, "There could possibly be many TB cases in the district.

However, the actual burden of TB in the district is unknown as no TB prevalence study has been conducted so far in the district" .

He also shared that CSOs can help in fighting TB by acting as the liaison between the health system and community.

DC Senapati, Mahesh Chaudhari, asserted that active involvement of CSOs are essential to successfully implement any project.

He appealed to the health authority to come up with TB appropriate behavior/ IEC material in line with Covid appropriate behavior for effective control/awareness of TB in the society.

RN Hannah, president Senapati District Women Association urged all to consider the benefits of the project and provide their cooperation to make the project a success.

Pung Mark, ex-president SDSA appealed to all the CSO leaders to nominate volunteers from their respective villages before March 17 .

The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr L Muanching, DTO, NTEP Senapati.

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