TB Day observed state-wide
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, March 24 2012: Joining rest of the globe, the World Tuberculosis (TB) Day was also observed by different organisations in different parts of the state today.

The main function was jointly organised by Medical Directorate, Manipur State TB Society and District TB Society, Imphal West at the Jubilee Hall of RIMS today.

Earlier in the morning, a rally was taken out from RD Wing, Lamphelpat and assembled at the Jubilee Hall.

Speaking as Chief Guest of the occasion, Phungzathnag Tonsing, Minister of Health and Family Welfare said that Multi-Drug Resistance (MDR) TB which is considered to be one of the hardest TB type to cure can be treated at JNIMS shortly.

He informed that there are around 50 testing centres of TB in Manipur.

This is in addition to a number of treatment centres.

Patients need to follow the doctor's advice and take medicines accordingly.

If TB is not treated properly in its early stage, it might turn into MDR TB.

The Minister further informed that a 10-bedded MDR TB ward would be set up in JNIMS very soon.

As of now 18 MDR TB patients have been treated under the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme.

An Intermediate Reference Laboratory for the states of Manipur, Nagaland and Mizoram has been set up in Manipur.

Dr Surchandra Sharma, Director of Health Services, Manipur, who was the Guest of Honour of the function, elaborated on the symptoms and treatment of TB and informed that uptil today 39120 cases of TB have been treated in the state while 1464 persons have died of TB.

In India, around 4 lakhs of people die annually.

Before the initiation of RNTCP, one person is died from TB every minute.

But after its introduction, the death rate has been reduced to two persons every three minutes, he added.

As part of the observance, free medicines were also distributed to TB patients and DOT providers and officials were awarded for their services rendered to the public.

The function was presided by Dr K Mosses Challai, Health Commissioner.

Dr S Sekharjit, Director RIMS, Dr W Gopimohan, Medical Superintendent, JNIMS and Dr N Tombi were also present as the Guests of Honour.

World TB Day was also observed in different districts of the state under the aegis of respective District TB Control Societies.

In Senapati, the World TB Day was observed at Senapati Indoor Stadium.

A rally participated by students was also organised to mark the occasion.

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