SHILLONG, March 11: As part of World Tuberculosis Month, the Sohra Tuberculosis Unit operating under the District TB Office, East Khasi Hills, observed World Tuberculosis Month by holding programmes on hygiene sensitisation and quiz competition at Sohra Presbyterian Girls Hostel, Nongsawlia.
While addressing the gathering, Dr GE Swett, Medical Officer, Tuberculosis Centre of Sohra TB Unit, explained about the disease and informed that TB can affect any part of the body except hair and nails.
“The symptoms of TB include cough that lasts for two weeks and more, fever, night sweats and weight loss. TB is preventable and curable with the right treatment,” he said.
According to Dr Swett, the treatment of TB needs at least six months.
Stating that prevention is better than cure, he stressed on the importance of personal hygiene and cleanliness. “It is essential to maintain one’s health and that everyone needs to follow a healthy lifestyle and keep themselves fit and healthy,” he said, adding that TB is of two types — Pulmonary TB which mainly affects the lungs and Extra Pulmonary TB which affects other parts of the body.
Fillanstar Khongsit, STS of Sohra TU, on the other hand, highlighted the importance of Active Case Finding (ACF).
“It is a systematic screening for active TB, normally outside of health facilities. The Tuberculosis Unit is actively doing the ACF in all villages under the stewardship of the health facilities and ASHA of the village level,” Khongsit said.