Asserting that the efforts of the government towards eliminating TB were yielding significant results, the Nagaland governor La Ganesan on Saturday said the community and the institutions in society could play a critical role in filling gaps and addressing social determinants thus contributing in the paths towards ending TB in India.
According to a Raj Bhavan statement, Ganesan was speaking at a programme held at Dr. Imkongliba Ao Hall, Raj Bhavan to distribute nutritional baskets to the TB patients as a part of the Pradhan Mantri T.B Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (PMTBMBA).
Governor said that India has the world’s highest tuberculosis (TB), with an estimated 26 lakh people contracting the disease and approximately 4 lakh people dying from the disease every year. He stated that the economic effect of TB in terms of loss of lives, income and workdays was also substantial.
Ganesan said that TB usually affected the most economically productive age group of society resulting in a significant loss of working days and pushing TB patients further into the vortex of poverty. Governor pointed out that PMTBMBA, launched by the President of India Droupadi Murmu on September 9, 2022, was primarily driven by the office of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the vision and the ambitious goal to eliminate TB by 2025, which is five years ahead of the global target set by the United Nation under its sustainable development goals.
Governor said challenge of TB required a multi-sectoral response to address the social determinants like nutritional support, living and working conditions, and an increase in access to diagnostic and treatment services.
He informed that the health ministry was implementing the “Community Support to TB patients-PMTBMBA by welcoming citizens to come forward as a Ni-Kshay Mitra or Doner.
Ni-Kshay Mitra programme include co-operative societies, corporate, elected representatives, individuals, institutions, NGOs, political parties and partners who could support by adopting health facilities or patients for accelerating response against TB to complement government efforts.
Governor, who also had register as a Ni-Kshay, expressed happiness that his officers and staff of Raj Bhavan have also come forward to register themselves as Nikshay Mitras.
Ganesan stressed the need for more publicity and awareness programmes in order to encourage more Ni-kshay Mitras in future. He called upon the department as well as TB cells across the districts to be more proactive and help achieve the national target.
On the occasion, governor also distributed nutritional supplements basket to the patients.
Delivering welcome address, secretary to the governor, Rajesh Soundararajan, said that the programme was not only about the nutritional supplements being handed over to the beneficiaries, but also to create more awareness about the programme and encourage citizens to come forward as Ni-Kshay Mitras or Donors. The secretary disclosed that the officers and staff of Raj Bhavan would also be sponsoring beneficiaries. Altogether 17 Ni-kshay Mitras from Raj Bhavan, Kohima have come forward to support the programme along with governor.
Kohima district TB officer, Dr. Chiben Kithan, in his opening remarks, said that the involvement of the community in supporting the programme would boost the efforts for reduction of the stigma.
He also acknowledged the governor for his participation and support towards the TB eliminate programme in the state.
ADC Kohima Rhosietho Nguori, officials from directorate H&FW, state TB Cells, officers and staff of governor’s secretariat attended the programme.