Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 24: In connection with celebrations of World Tuberculosis Day, an impressive but simple function was held at Rajouri.
Minister of State for Health, Shabir Ahmad Khan was the chief guest on the occasion
Addressing the function, the Minister said that there is dire need to raise public awareness about the spread of the disease that is treatable and preventable and Government has taken up strong steps to control the disease and save millions of precious lives.
The Minister said the theme of World TB Day 2013 “Eradicate T.B in my lifetime” lends immediacy to the mission to halt TB and underlines the fact that everyone can make it his or her responsibility to eliminate the deadly disease from the face of the earth in the foreseeable future. He said the day offers an opportunity to focus on TB-related problems and solutions and to support worldwide efforts to control TB.
He said that in tune with this year’s theme, many organizations that join hands globally in the Eradicate TB partnership have outlined targets that men, women and children can dare to dream and achieve the target to free the world from the clutches of tuberculosis. He said that people young and old, living in different countries can have these hopes to put an end to TB in their lifetimes.
The Minister said the Seminars, symposia, quiz programs, poster presentations and TB vaccination camps for children are some of the events lined up in urban and rural areas in an attempt to increase awareness and check the spread of TB.
The Minister said that Government is making strenuous efforts to eradicate this infected disease from the State. He said special facilities to diagnose this disease besides to provide anti T.B treatment to detected patients have been kept available at all health institutions of the State, adding this fiscal Rs 2.50 crore is being expended for free medicare facilities to such patients in the State.
He said this year 92724 sputum tests have been done in the State against which 12712 detected as T.B patients, which gets free treatment in the hospitals.
Besides a large number of people, world T.B Day function was attended by District Development Commissioner, Rajouri, Director ISM. Dr Ab Kabeer, Director Health Services Jammu, Dr Madhu Khullar, Director NRHM, Dr Yashpal Sharma, Drug Controller, Dr Satish and other senior officers of Health Department besides Panches, Sarpanches, ASHAs and Angawardi workers.
Later the Minister inaugurated New Born Care Unit in District Hospital Rajouri which was constructed at a cost of Rs 50 lakh.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister stressed for strict implementation of all the components of Flag ship programme NRHM across the State, adding that JSSK is pivotal to reduce infant mortality rate in the State.
Meanwhile, World T.B Day was observed at Sheikh-ul-Alam Hall Budgam here today. Among others, Director State TB Demonstration and Training Centre (STDC) Kashmir, Dr. Mushtaq Ahmad, Deputy Director Health Services Kashmir, Dr. Masooda Shah, Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Gurjeet Singh, State Tuberculosis Officer, Dr. G.M. Wani, District Information Officer, Budgam and all Block Medical Officers of the district.
The function was organized by District Tuberculosis Society, Budgam in association with J&K Voluntary Health and Development Association.
PowerPoint presentations were made by the resource persons about various aspects of T.B including treatment, cure and psychological effect, keeping in view the theme for World T.B Day 2013, i.e “Zero TB deaths in my life time”.
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