OUR CORRESPONDENT
TEZPUR: A meeting of the District Tuberculosis Forum was held at the conference hall of the Deputy Commissioner's office on Monday in the presence of various stakeholders to discuss various strategies and policies in line with the Prime Minister of India's vision to eradicate tuberculosis from the country by 2025.
The meeting, which was chaired by Deputy Commissioner Bhupesh Chandra Das in the presence of MLA Tezpur Prithiraj Rabha, mainly focused on stepping up IEC activities in the district in order to create awareness among the masses and on community-led participation as the essential component to eradicate the disease from the country within the stipulate time.
This is the third meeting of the District Tuberculosis Forum of Sonitpur district and various issues related to reducing stigma and discrimination associated with the disease, facilitating nutritional support for patients, establishing linkage with social welfare schemes, rehabilitation and social security of patients, and on creating awareness about various government schemes and programmes and treatment facilities available were also discussed in detail. Special focus was also laid on identifying and making targeted interventions especially in tea garden areas.
Speaking on the occasion, State IEC/ ACSM officer Dr Paranjoy Bordoloi spoke on the need to advocate for and facilitate an environment that minimizes and prevents TB transmission, increasing community participation in TB eradication programme through formation of network of people affected by TB and periodically review the same.
The Deputy Commissioner asked the health department officials to lay special focus on identifying vulnerable pockets such as tea garden areas and to carry out intensive sensitization campaigns in these areas by involving GP presidents and secretaries of the areas.
District TB Officer, Dr Sanjoy Roy, gave the welcome speech and sought active cooperation from all stakeholders in the effort to fight tuberculosis. Additional DC Banti Talukdar, Dr Palash Talukdar, WHO, representatives of NGOs, TB champions, advocates, journalists and various stakeholders were present in the meeting.
Also Watch: