Wokha District 1st Tuberculosis Forum (WDTBF) meeting was held at DC’s conference hall, Wokha with TB forum members on August 28.
A press release by NHM Wokha media officer, Mhonbeni Ezung stated that, the chief medical officer (CMO), Dr. Robin Lotha chaired the function.
District tuberculosis officer (DTO), Dr. Benchilo Ngullie gave a power point presentation on the TB scenario of Wokha district. In her presentation, she said that the main challenge of TB was stigma and discrimination of TB patients by the community.
In order to remove the stigma and discrimination, advocacy, communication and social mobilization (ACSM) with the TB forum members have to be taken up intensely, she said.
Additional deputy commissioner Wokha Mhathung Tsanglao encouraged TB forum members to join hands and work together to remove stigma from the mindset of people. He also said that ASHAs play an important role in disseminating awareness on TB at the grassroot level. He mentioned that nutritional status of an individual was also important to help prevent Tuberculosis disease.
Shandao and Tsanthungo, cured TB patients shared their testimonies and pledged to give their testimonies to the community to treat TB as a common curable disease.