Tuensang District TB Forum (TDTBF) has appealed to the government to address the need for nutritional support among TB patients in the district at the earliest.
TDTBF, a voluntary organization formed by current and former TB patients and health workers in the district aims to improve TB care and provide quality services to TB patients.
Since most of the patients belong to the weaker strata of population already living in adverse and vulnerable circumstances, they find it even more difficult to afford nutritious food.
The forum in a release has asked deputy commissioner, Tuensang to direct the rightful authority in charge for utilization of proper DPDB or state planning commission scheme for care and support to TB patients in Tuensang.
The recommendations made by TDTBF are – to ensure provision of nutritious food to poor TB patients who access TB medicines from the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) in the district through department; help to sustain TB patients and their families, during the course of treatment, by creating a pension scheme that will provide a suitable monthly amount, which will save families from catastrophic economic circumstances when breadwinners who have TB are unable to work; to avail free bus passes for poor TB patients.
District TB Forum also requested DC, Tuensang to consider its suggestions and do the needful to include a welfare scheme for TB patients in the district, with a hope that their efforts would reach the goal of a TB free Tuensang district.