SHILLONG, Feb 6: Governor CH Vijayashankar on Thursday pointed out the need for a study to identify the reasons and factors behind the prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) in Meghalaya.
The Governor made this observation during an interaction with senior doctors from the Health department at the signing of an MoU between Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, Raj Bhavan, Meghalaya, and North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (NEEPCO) at Raj Bhavan.
“There is a need to form an expert committee to determine the root causes of TB in the state,” he said.
He stressed that medical professionals must understand the underlying factors contributing to the rise in TB cases. “Until we identify the reasons behind the increase in TB cases, overcoming the disease will be difficult. Educating people about the factors that help reduce the risk of TB is equally important,” the Governor added.
Governor Vijayashankar further stated that treating TB patients is just one aspect of the fight against the disease, but understanding its causes is equally crucial.
It may be mentioned that the event was attended by NEEPCO Director (Personnel), Retired Major Rajesh Kumar Jha, Commissioner and Secretary in-charge of the Governor’s Secretariat, BDR Tiwari, and State Tuberculosis Officer, Dr M Syiemlieh, among others.
Speaking to reporters after the MoU signing, Jha said that they had signed an agreement with Raj Bhavan to extend nutritional support to 250 TB patients across five districts of Meghalaya. According to him, this initiative is part of the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, a nationwide mission to engage people from all backgrounds and accelerate efforts toward TB elimination.
He also noted that the Governor had expressed serious concerns about the rising TB cases in Meghalaya. “We are coming together to address the problem of TB patients while also working on forming an expert committee to identify the root causes. This will help us tackle the issue at its source,” Jha said.
As part of NEEPCO’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, Jha stated that supporting these 250 patients would help provide them with the necessary strength to fight the disease.
It may be mentioned that the MoU was signed between NEEPCO General Manager (HR) Corporate Social Responsibility, Elbin Deepika Doley, and Senior Medical Health Officer (SMHO) in charge of Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, Raj Bhavan, Dr Moami Marak.
