Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 24 2010:
Health Minister Ph Parijat has claimed that the State Government has been successfully undertaking tuberculosis treatment programme.
Parijat was speaking as chief guest at the 28th World TB Day observance at GM Hall today.
The World TB Day was observed under the aegis of the TB Society with the slogan 'On the move Against Tuberculosis, Innovate to Accelerate Action'.
Parijat said that infection by TB is no longer a cause of despair nowadays.
TB can be effectively treated with DOT method of treatment.
There are 600 DOT (Direct Observed Treatment) centres in Manipur as well as 49 TB testing centres.
Any one suffering from symptoms similar to those of TB should get themselves tested promptly at these centres, the Minister asserted.
Even as the TB Hospital located at Lei Ingkhol has 100 beds, only 22 patients are staying at the hospital.
Other TB patients are undergoing DOT while staying at their homes.
The Health Minister said that the TB Hospital would be shifted to Keirao Wangkhem at the earliest where necessary infrastructure are being built at the cost of Rs seven crores.
Moreover a Multi Drug Resistance TB (MDRTB) testing laboratory would be opened in the State shortly.
He also appealed to the people not to allow themselves lapse into MDRTB as patient infected MDRTB cannot be treated by DOT.
The observance was also attended by Health Director Dr Yaima as guest of honour and RIMS Director Dr L Fimate as president.
Dr Fimate exuded that TB can be eradicated if the people have general awareness about protective measures, mode of transmission and effective methods of TB treatment.
Observing that TB is more common in developing countries, Dr Fimate noted that there is high rate of TB-HIV co-infection in countries where there are high prevalence rate of HIV.
He further asserted that one can protect one-self from HIV/AIDS if he/she maintains good personal hygiene.
The observance culminated with distribution of prizes to winners of a quiz competition held on the topic of TB.
In addition to administering drugs to DOT patients, dedicated health officials striving to eradicate TB were also felicitated on the occasion.