youth with Candlelight at Jawlamukhi highlighting urgency to EndTB

Message by youth with Candlelight at Jawlamukhi highlighting urgency to EndTB.

 Vijyender Sharma

Dharnshala----As part of the ongoing TB awareness activities, youth of Laureate Institute and research Centre of Pharmacy Kathog, near here spread message of Time to end TB and Red Arrow innovatively through Candlelight. 

Dr Mahendra Singh Ashawat Director cum Principal of the Institute addressing the students shared that drug resistant TB is the biggest challenge and impending crisis, and we need to act fast to control the disease.  Dean Prof. C.P. S. Verma added that rising levels of drug resistant TB pose a major threat to health security. Dr Ran Singh MD of the institute was enthusiastic and optimistic for success of the awareness campaign.

Dr RK Sood District TB officer addressing the youth shared that the theme of this year's campaign is Its time to end TB,  which reflects the urgency of accelerating the efforts to bend the curve.  TB incidence is declining by about 1-2% per year and to achieve the NSP goal by 2025, we need to have an accelerated annual decline in TB incidence by about 15-20%. 

Dr Gurdarshan Gupta CMO Kangra stated that

Red Arrow is a Symbol to unite us Against TB, a symbol for solidarity towards TB free world  and unwavering commitment to move ahead with the mission until we reach the finish line to End TB.

Dr Rajesh Guleri District Health officer deliberating on the challenges shared that stigma is a barrier to an effective TB response.

The event was organized under the aegis of health department and Akshay Project. Narendra Joshi Distirct Coordinator of Askashy project shared that volunteers are doing TB sensitiaisation  through Akshay Samvad, sputum collection & transportation, outreach camps, and surveillance in the project districts. Senior Treatment Supervisor Anil Thakur from Jwalamukhi  called upon all to make it a people's movement. Arun Kumar from Jwalamukhi gave his voluntary services with drone photography.

National Strategic plan 2017-25 envisions a TB free India with decrease the morbidity and mortality by early diagnosis and treatment to all TB cases thereby cutting the chain of transmission.  A TB Mukt app for enabling quick navigation and access to nearest facility has already been launched in Himachal.