World TB Day observed at SBLS Nursing School

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, March 24

The health authorities today observed World TB Day to mark the discovery of TB Bacili by Sir Robert Koch, March 1882.

Department officials said more than 3,000 persons were treated for TB in 2016.

This year, the theme of World TB Day is ‘Unite To End TB — Leave No One Behind’.

This year the day was observed at SBLS Nursing School, Jalandhar, in the presence of Dr Maninder Minhas, Civil Surgeon, Jalandhar. Dr KS Bawa, medical superintendent, Civil Hospital, and senior medical officers from all CHCs, PHCs, principle of nursing school, staff and students participated in the programme.

Dr Raghu Sabharwal, district programme officer, RNTCP, made the audience aware of Tuberculosis, how its spreads, how it is diagnose it and treatment.

At present, the facility of LED microscopy and CBNAAT (to detect resistance of drug Rifampicin) is present in the lab of district TV centre where early detection of TB can be done.

He said LED fluorescent microscopy was also being done at SDH, Nakodar.

From February 2016, daily treatment of HIV-TB patients has been started under 99 DOTS programme. As many as 15 patients are under this treatment.

Microscopy, CBNAAT and full treatment of all new, old and MDR patients is being done free of cost at all government health centres. World TB Day was also observed at CHC Kartarpur and CHC Adampur on March 22. TB awareness rally will be held at sub-divisional hospital, Nakodar, tomorrow.

Poster-making and slogan writing competitions were also held at SBLS Nursing School to mark the occasion.

The health authorities have also intimated all private practitioners to notify the TB cases taking treatment under their supervision as tuberculosis is a notifiable disease.