By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, July 13: Meghalaya has recorded 2,305 tuberculosis cases from January to June 2024, compared to 4,971 cases in the entire year of 2023.
This was informed by State TB Officer, Dr. Syiemlieh, during the launch of an innovative Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative by the State Health Society of Meghalaya in collaboration with Meghalaya Rural Bank (MRB).
The ‘CSR Engagement Initiative for Dissemination of TB Messages’ aims to raise awareness by printing TB-related information on bank passbooks.
Dr. Syiemlieh, during the launch event, emphasised the importance of a multisectoral approach to enhance TB awareness and intervention.
On the other hand, Ashish Yadav, Chairman of MRB, announced that TB awareness messages in English, Garo and Khasi will be displayed on passbooks, focusing on rural populations across Meghalaya.
This effort, he said, supports the government’s financial inclusion programme and the national objective of TB elimination.
The passbook initiative is part of a broader strategy to involve various sectors in the fight against TB.
By including pictures and basic information about TB symptoms, these passbooks serve as educational tools that can potentially save lives.
Meanwhile, Dr. Syiemlieh also informed that since the launch of Pradhan Mantri TB-Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan in Meghalaya last month, about 6,666 nutritional food baskets have been distributed, and around 2,203 TB patients have received support.
However, more assistance is needed, with over 1,300 consenting TB patients currently without support.
It may be mentioned that the MRB has printed 10,000 passbooks with TB messages for distribution across all its branches in Meghalaya.
During the launch event, passbooks were distributed to 10 beneficiaries, including three current TB patients and one TB Champion advocating for other patients and the community.
