Jammu: Reviewing the status of National TB elimination program in J&K, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Friday said while there is a National Strategic Plan to assist States/UTs, the districts also need to focus on far-flung areas to completely eliminate TB before the 2025 deadline.
According to an official press release, chairing a meeting at the civil secretariat here, the LG said that Detect–Treat–Prevent–Build is a proven successful strategy and directed the Deputy Commissioners for convergence of various health-related public outreach campaigns to address TB and drug menace.
There are thousands of families scarred by drug addiction, and the government is determined to purge the drug epidemic, the LG maintained.
He directed the officials to organize Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities on the symptoms of tuberculosis, and motivate people to get a confirmatory test for TB for early detection and timely treatment to reduce the TB mortality rate.
He also asked the concerned officers of UT administration to involve Youth Clubs, diligent NGOs, and private labs for effective and timely notification of TB cases.
The LG further directed that the financial assistance allocation for TB patients should reach their bank accounts through DBT. The officials were also instructed to ensure adequate nutrition for all TB patients through Nikshay Poshan Yojna (NPY).
The health department has been directed for holding a review meeting on TB elimination strategy and status of cases every month, the press release said.
Vivek Bhardwaj, Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Medical Education Department gave a detailed briefing on the district-wise TB case notification, treatment success rate, TB elimination strategies and ways to improve elimination.
He informed that Budgam has already achieved the status of TB-free district, while Udhampur has received Bronze Medal under Sub-National Certification Claim in 2020, awarded on World TB Day this year.
Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Advisor to the LG; Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary; Ch Mohammad Yasin, Mission Director, National Health Mission J&K, senior officers from Health department, and Deputy Commissioners attended the meeting in person and through video conferencing.
