West Khasi Hills wins medal for reduction of TB cases

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 12, 2023

The Deputy Commissioner, West Khasi Hills District has congratulated the TB teams of West Khasi Hills, Nongstoin TU for achieving an award during the Sub National Certification for TB Elimination.

West Khasi Hills District received the bronze medal as a recognition for their efforts in the fight towards eliminating Tuberculosis in the State and Nation as a whole by 2025. The medals were awarded by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India at the World TB Summit on the 24^th March, 2023 held at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. 

The District applied for the Sub-National Certification in the year 2022. The initiative marks the districts on “Progress towards TB Free Status” under different categories measured with graded milestones of decline in TB incidence.

As per Sub- National Certification norms, districts that achieved 20 % reduction of TB incidence as compared to 2015 incidence are eligible for the bronze medal award, along with a monetary award of 2 lacs rupees. Those who could achieved 40 %, 60 % and 80 % reduction in TB incidence as compared to 2015 incidence rate are eligible for the silver, gold and TB free districts award with a monetary award of 3 lacs, 5 lacs and 10 lacs respectively.

Achievement

Following the Sub National Certification Survey, which was done in the year-end 2022, West Khasi Hills received bronze medal along with a certificate & cash price of Rs. 2 lac from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India for achieving > 20% reduction in tuberculosis incidence from the baseline of 166/lac population in 2015.

Way Forward for TB Reduction at West Khasi Hills District

• Increase Active Case Finding (ACF), which include screening and testing of vulnerable population.

• To scale up and extend the numbers of TRUNAT testing machine in various health facilities

• Engagement with various stakeholders and collaboration with other departments for convergence towards TB health prevention and health promotion such as National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) by engaging Self Help Groups (SGHs)

• To scale up PMTBMBA (Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan) which was launched by the President of India, Smti. Droupadi Murmu on 9^th September 2022 where it has been envisioned to bring together all community stakeholders to support those on TB treatment and accelerate the country’s progress towards TB elimination. Here any stakeholder whether as a company, group or individual are requested to become a DONOR or NIKSHAY MITRA by adopting any number of TB patients throughout their duration of treatment and provide them monthly food baskets. As of now, out of 131 patients who are currently on treatment in the District, 65 have consented to get the monthly food baskets. Till now, the District could provide to only 11 beneficiaries with the support from 8 Nikshay Mitras. Therefore calling all stakeholders to come forward and support the TB patients so the District can achieved a TB Free status.

Contributed