SHILLONG, July 19: While Tuberculosis (TB) cases are overall on the decline in Meghalaya, Health and Family Welfare Minister Wailadmiki Shylla on Sunday urged state legislators to adopt TB patients and provide financial assistance to support their nutritional needs.
Without naming the specific districts where cases still show an upward trend, the health minister highlighted that the prolonged nature of TB treatment often leads to a lack of follow-up, particularly among patients in rural areas.
He stressed the need for increased awareness to ensure patients complete their full course of medication.
It is pertinent to recall that the state government earlier this year launched the second phase of a 100-day tuberculosis campaign to intensify detection, treatment and prevention efforts.
According to the latest data, 1,258 villages, representing approximately 18 per cent of the state’s total, have been officially declared TB-free.
