Shillong, March 12: As the World is preparing to observe the World Tuberculosis day on 24th March 2022, the National Tuberculosis Elimination programme, Meghalaya has also taken a step forward by organizing numerous awareness programmes.
Among these, two programmes have been conducted recently by the State Tuberculosis Office on the impact of Tuberculosis in the society to the students and teachers of Divine Saviour Higher Secondary School and Dinet Manik Syiem Higher Secondary School, Shillong on the 9th and 10thof March, 2022.
The Resource Persons in these programmes wereDr.M.Mawrie, State TB Officer and Dr.A. J.Rynjah, Assistant Programme Officer, State TB Cell, Meghalaya.
Dr.Mawrie, State Tuberculosis Officer, in his speech explained that Tuberculosis is a highly contagious disease that affects people of all age groups and spread through water droplets when an untreated TB patient coughs, sneezes or talks. He went on to appeal the students and teachers not to stigmatize TB patients, rather support them to recover from the disease.
In addition, Dr.Rynjah, Assistant Programme Officer cum DR-TB Coordinator, encouraged the students to focus on identification of signs &symptoms of Tuberculosis and to get tested whenever they have these symptoms.
This will help to detect and treat TB cases at the earliest and prevent spread of the disease in the community. Also, she has stressed on practicing cough etiquette at all times to control the spread of TB and other infectious diseases.
To enhance the knowledge of the students, quiz competition was also conducted by Ms.TracyKharkamni, State Coordinator, followed by the distribution of prizes. In conclusion, Mr. J.Diengdoh, State Public Private Coordinator has called for collective actions to fight the disease and achieve the goal of TB free Meghalaya by 2025.
