Senapati: A meeting of the District-Level TB Mukt Bharat Committee, along with Heads of Offices/Departments, was held today at the Conference Hall of the Deputy Commissioner, Senapati, to review and strengthen the implementation of the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (TBMBA) in the district.
The meeting was chaired by the Deputy Commissioner of Senapati, Dharun Kumar S (IAS), and brought together heads of various offices and departments to strengthen ground-level monitoring, high-risk screening, and patient support systems under the national TB Mukt elimination initiative.
During the meeting, Dr. L. Muanching, District Tuberculosis Officer, Senapati, apprised the gathering of the prevailing TB situation in the district and the activities being undertaken towards TB elimination. She called upon the District Administration and all concerned departments to intensify efforts under the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, with renewed emphasis on inter-departmental convergence, high-risk screening, early diagnosis, community participation, patient support and regular monitoring.
The District Tuberculosis Officer also encouraged officers to enrol themselves as Nikshay Mitras and adopt at least one TB patient for a minimum period of six months by providing nutritional or other permissible support, in accordance with applicable Government guidelines.
The District-Level TB Mukt Bharat Committee, Senapati, has been constituted under the chairmanship of the Deputy Commissioner, Senapati, to ensure effective implementation, coordination, monitoring and convergence of activities under the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan. The committee comprises the Chief Medical Officer as Co-Convenor, the District Tuberculosis Officer as Convenor, and representatives from DRDA, MY Bharat, Education, Labour and NCC as members.
As part of the intensified implementation strategy, all Sub-Divisional Officers/Block Development Officers (SDOs/BDOs) in Senapati District have been designated as Special Nodal Officers for their respective areas. They will lead, coordinate and monitor TB elimination activities while facilitating community outreach and mobilisation towards achieving TB Mukt Block/Ward status.
The Special Nodal Officers are instructed to prepare monthly micro-plans and weekly activity schedules and convene regular review meetings with TB Mukt Bharat Teams, Block Medical Officers, Medical Officers, ANMs, ASHAs, Anganwadi Workers and representatives of village. These measures will facilitate verification of ground-level activities, identification of gaps and greater engagement with local communities.
Special emphasis has been placed on high-risk TB screening and early diagnosis. The SDOs were directed to coordinate with Block Medical Officers to ensure 100 per cent X-ray screening of high-risk populations above 14 years of age and upfront NAAT testing for symptomatic individuals or those with abnormal X-ray findings. Mapping of high-risk villages and wards on the Nikshay portal has also been prioritised to facilitate targeted interventions.
The Chief Medical Officer and District Tuberculosis Officer, Senapati, will provide technical and programme-related assistance to the Special Nodal Officers and facilitate awareness, screening, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up activities across the district.
The initiative seeks to bring TB elimination efforts closer to communities through the active participation of youth, local institutions, frontline workers and district-level departments, while ensuring early detection, timely treatment, treatment adherence, and sustained nutritional and social support for TB patients.
Reiterating the district administration’s commitment, the Chairman called for collective action, convergence and sustained field-level interventions to accelerate the TB elimination campaign and achieve the goal of making Senapati a TB-free district.
