DC Rajouri flags off TB Active detection cum Awareness Vans for tribal areas
RAJOURI: Deputy Commissioner Rajouri, Vikas Kundal today flagged off TB Active detection cum Awareness Vans for tribal areas of the district.
Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamim Un Nisa Bhatti; Narender Lal Joshi, DPM Piramal Swasthya-ADC, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, DTO Dr Khalid Hussain and District Supervisor Shaida Maqsood were also present during the event.
These vans will spread awareness across all blocks of the district about Covid-19 and TB prevention.
Under this campaign, Piramal Swasthya and USAID jointly provided 13 Paramedical staff and 13 Community Mobilisers for sumptum collection/detection and awareness. Apart from human resources, 13 vehicles are being provided for IEC activities and Sputum collection.
Active Case Finding (ACF) for tuberculosis patients is a Joint Action Plan of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and Ministry of Tribal Affairs for the elimination of tuberculosis in India.
Pertinently, the ACF program runs in 182 districts across India for 100 days and is supported by USAID and implemented by Piramal Swasthya with support from the Central TB division of MoHFW.
The elimination of TB in India is part of a global campaign. In 2015, all member states of the United Nations adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and resolved to end the TB epidemic by 2030. However, the government of India is planning to achieve the target by 2025, five years ahead of the global target.
Speaking during the event, the Deputy Commissioner said that TB is a priority disease that has been targeted for elimination from India by 2025 and community-led participation is an essential component to achieving the target within the stipulated time frame.
He also asked for timely identification of the patients suffering from tuberculosis and putting them on effective treatment for their early recovery.
Stressing the need for collective efforts to prevent the disease, he also asked the Health Authorities to take all possible measures to eliminate the disease from the district and also generate mass awareness among the public about how to prevent Tuberculosis and stay healthy.