Govt's attention drawn to TB control measures
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 16 2012:
State TB Officer has drawn the attention of the Government to take adequate measures for the prevention of Tuberculosis in the State.
Addressing the media today at the State TB Cell Office located at Lamphel, State TB Officer, RK Laksana drawn the attention of the Government to pay more attention in implementing TB eradication programme.
Stating that TB is a communicable disease, the TB Officer a patient can spread the disease to 14-16 other persons through breathing and coughing.
Saying that discontinued use of TB drug gives nothing beneficial to the patient, he said it only resulted in the patient becoming drug resistance.
Treatment of a patient with Multi Drug Resistance TB (MRDTB) took 24 to 28 months with the cost amounting up to Rs 2 lakh.
There are 53 TB testing centres in the State and one Intermediate Referrence Laboratory for testing MDRTB.
He added that there are 28 MDRTB patients in the State.
In an attempt to ensure total eradication of TB in the State, the Revised National TB Control Programme has been implemented in the State.
Patients are given TB drug and free services under the programme.
Dr Laksana said though the Revise National TB Control Programme has been implemented in the State, an impediment comes due to the failure of the State Government in providing infrastructure in time and absence of transfer rules of doctors, nurses, and technicians and failure to pay salary to the staff.
He further informed the private hospital authorities to refer any TB patient to avail treatment under the Revised National TB Control Programme.