SHILLONG: Tuberculosis is still a big challenge in the country as well as in Meghalaya where 3791 patients were diagnosed with Basic-TB last year.
Delivering the key note address at a programme organsied on the occasion of World TB Day here at the Reid Provincial Chest Hospital, Shillong on Saturday, Dr D G Nongkynrih, State Tuberculosis Officer said that in the year 2017, 27588 patients were screened in the state out of which 3791 were diagnosed with basic-TB, 252 of Multi Drug Resistant-TB, 13 number of cases related to XDR-TB, 53 cases of patients co-infected with TB-HIV, and 206 cases of paediatric TB.
The programme was organized by the Meghalaya State Health Society in collaboration with the District Health Society (RNTCP), East Khasi Hills, Shillong and Reid Provincial Chest Hospital 2018 under the theme- “Wanted: Leaders for a TB-Free World
Speaking on the occasion, Meghalaya Health & Family Welfare Minister AL Hek said the theme itself had put forth the need to act diligently towards our goal of eradicating the deadly disease from the society.
Stating that it is a collective responsibility of one and all, the Minister also called for concerted efforts from NGOs, community and religious leaders in the fight to eradicate TB.
Hek informed that he recently attended the End-TB summit in Delhi where Prime Minister Narendra Modi too made a call to eliminate TB from the country by 2025.
“The Government and the department alone cannot alone eliminate the disease but all of us need handholding to curb the disease,” Hek told the gathering
During the programme, the Health Minister launched the Medical Mobile Van at the Hospital premises and also released 79 Android tablets, supplied by the Government of India which will be used for online recording, data entry and reporting.
MLA from West Shillong, M. Rapsang, Additional Chief Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya, P. W. Ingty, Secretary, Health & Family Welfare cum MD, NHM, Pravin Bakshi, Joint Director of Health Services (MI), and other officials were also present on the occasion.