Sensitization workshop on TB preventive therapy held
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 29 2021:
A workshop on TB Preventive Therapy (TPT) and 3 HP Community Demand Generation and Treatment literacy program for TB prevention among PLHIV with Drug users and PLHIV representatives in Manipur was held at the conference hall of Community Network for Empowerment (CoNE) at Keishamthong Hodam Leirak Machin yesterday.
A press release issued by CoNE said the workshop was organised by CoNE with ARK/Kripa Foundation Catalytic Small Grant Application-IMPAACT4TB and supported by TAG with an aim to impart knowledge on the basics of TB preventive therapy among people who inject drugs and people living with HIV.
Around 18 participants representing various community organisations from different districts of the State attended the workshop.
RK Nalinikanta, president of CoNE spoke as the resource person and covered topics on global burden of TB and TB/HIV, understanding TB infection, fundamentals of TB preventive therapy (TPT), 3 HP and 1HP, new short course TPT options and TPT for special population.
He further informed that under the National TB program Isoniazid Preventive Therapy (IPT) is being carried out as one of the TPT regimen where patients are provided with isoniazid tablets but for people living with HIV, they have to take the medicine along with ARV on a daily basis.
Though this IPT regimen is effective, it is less user friendly and thus the program has become unpopular intervention in treating Latent TB infection (LTBI), he added.
He continued that the new WHO approved TPT regimen namely 3HP which is a combination of Isoniazid and Rifapentine is safe and well tolerated and can be safely prescribed to people who inject drugs living with HIV and other PLHIV.
Nilakanta stated that the price of the new treatment limits the availability, accessibility, acceptability and quality of 3HP for TPT and said,' If prevention is a public good then TPT regime must be considered public goods.
The workshop ended with adopting a number of resolutions which include submission of representation to National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) and other relevant stakeholders to recommend 3HP as a TPT regimen for PLHIV under the national program.