Emphasis on promoting Nikshay Mitra scheme
Una, September 18- Deputy Commissioner Jatin Lal has appealed to the people of the district to become active partners in making Una TB free. He urged the people to help TB patients by becoming Ni-Kshay Mitra and contribute to making this campaign successful. The Deputy Commissioner was presiding over the meeting of the District Tuberculosis Eradication Committee held at the Regional Hospital Una on Wednesday, in which CMO Dr. Sanjeev Verma and District Tuberculosis Officer Dr. Ramesh Kumar along with other officers were present.
In the meeting, the work done for the elimination of tuberculosis from January 2024 to August 2024 was discussed. The Deputy Commissioner appealed to all the stakeholders of the district to provide nutrition, moral strength, and mental support to TB patients under the Nikshay Mitra scheme. Under this scheme, any person or institution can provide assistance to TB patients for 6 months, one year or three years. The Deputy Commissioner informed that out of 561 TB patients in the district, 322 are being provided nutritional food through Nikshay Mitras.
The Deputy Commissioner said that 41361 adults have been identified for adult BCG vaccination in the district, out of which 36,486 have been vaccinated so far. He said that under the TIIFA project, the data of cough patients who are taking cough syrup from private doctors or medical stores will be uploaded on the Tuberculosis Free Himachal App so that potential patients can be identified and tested and treated in time. This will also help in controlling the mortality rate.
The Deputy Commissioner directed the Health Department to provide necessary help through the Red Cross Society to those TB patients who are not getting nutritious food. Apart from this, he directed the District Panchayat Officer to make efforts to increase awareness about TB through the health department personnel in the Gram Sabha meetings to be held on October 2, so that more and more people can become aware about this disease and cooperate in making the district TB free.
During this, the Deputy Commissioner also specially honored the Nishchay Mitras.
Coordinated efforts reduce mortality rate
In the meeting, District Tuberculosis Officer Dr. Ramesh Kumar informed that a total of 561 TB patients have been notified in the district, out of which 16 are MDR (Multi-Drug Resistant) TB patients. All these patients are being treated free of cost in various health centers of Una district. Apart from this, 561 patients were also tested for HIV and diabetes, out of which 123 patients were found to be suffering from diabetes along with tuberculosis. These patients are being treated simultaneously for both the diseases.
Dr. Ramesh Kumar also informed that this year success has been achieved in identifying tuberculosis patients in the district and the mortality rate has also decreased compared to last year. The mortality rate was 8 percent in the year 2023, which has come down to 5.7 percent this year.
District Council Chairperson Neelam Kumari, Medical Superintendent Dr. Sanjay Mankotia, District Health Officer Dr. Sukhdeep Singh Sidhu, Chief Advisor of Swan Women Federation Rajesh Sharma, Chairman Peer Nigaah Mandir Committee Shashi Devi, Ashwani Kumar on behalf of Baba Bal Ji Maharaj Mandir, Ram Kumar on behalf of Baba Rudra Nand Committee, Zeenat Mahant Gagret, Sunil Joshi Nestle Industry, Live Fast Gagret, District Panchayat Officer Neelam Katoch, Dr. Rajiv Garg, Dr. Pankaj Kumar, Dr. Shingara Singh, Akhil Sharma Manager Industry, Dr. Ashok Kumar, Gulshan Kumar, Sandeep Dheer, Rakesh Kumar, Rita Devi and other dignitaries were present in the meeting.