Resubelpara, June 4: Local leaders, community representatives, ASHAs, students, and beneficiaries attended a programme to honour community participation under the Jan Bhagidari TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan 100-Day Campaign (Phase II) was held on Thursday at the Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society Hall, Mendipathar in North Garo Hills.
Organised by the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme, Williamnagar, the event aimed to strengthen public awareness and community engagement towards the elimination of Tuberculosis (TB).
As part of the 100-Day TB Mukt Bharat Campaign launched on March 24, a series of awareness and outreach activities are being conducted across Primary Health Centres, Community Health Centres, and Sub-Centres in North Garo Hills to promote early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of TB.
Mendipathar MLA and chairman of the Meghalaya Tourism Development Corporation, Marthon J. Sangma stated that TB is a curable disease and that facilities for testing and diagnosis are readily available at the grassroots level. He highlighted the district’s commitment, through the involvement of all key stakeholders, towards achieving the goal of TB elimination by 2030. He also announced the adoption of TB patients to support their treatment and overall care.
Guest of honour, Rezia Sangma, ADC, MCS, encouraged students to become active ambassadors in spreading awareness about TB in their communities. She urged the public to avail themselves of the facilities provided by the government for the diagnosis and treatment of TB and contribute towards the complete elimination of the disease.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Chrissie Pearly M. Sangma, District Tuberculosis Officer for East and North Garo Hills, explained that TB is an infectious disease requiring timely diagnosis and proper treatment. She highlighted common symptoms including persistent cough with mucus, blood in sputum, fever, weakness, chest pain, sudden weight loss, and fatigue. She urged individuals experiencing such symptoms to undergo testing, noting that diagnostic services are available at all health centres in North Garo Hills.
She also spoke about government initiatives, including portable testing devices and various support schemes available for TB patients.
District Medical and Health Officer, Dr. Priya Sengse R. Sangma, spoke on the activities being undertaken under the 100-Day TB Mukt Bharat Campaign and encouraged people to seek early medical consultation, emphasizing that TB is completely curable with proper medication. She highlighted the benefits of the TRU-NAT testing facility and urged the public to cooperate with health workers during TB screening and assessment activities.
As part of the programme, a free medical health check-up camp was also organised to mark the occasion.
