`Manipur among six states with highest number of TB patients`

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IMPHAL, March 22: The 33rd World Tuberculosis Day- 2014 will be observed on March 24 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences, Porompat under the theme “Reach Three Million, Find, Treat and Cure TB.”

This was announced by the State TB officer Dr Y Gopalkrishna Singh during a press conference at RD Wing, Lamphelpat conference hall.

Elaborating further, he said that the main aim of organising the observation is to spread awareness amongst the general public on the need for proper diagnosis if any symptom is detected.

The number of patients of Tuberculosis and other communicable diseases has been drastically reduced throughout the world, nonetheless, the state continues to be the one of the six states in the country with the highest number of TB patients, he said.

He continued that there are at present 88 Multi Drug Resistance treatment TB patients undergoing treatment in the state.     

He continued “The World TB Day is the day to build awareness about the global epidemic of tuberculosis.”

“On March 24, 1882, Dr Robert Koch announced the discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria that cause tuberculosis.”

He said 100 years after the discovery, the first World TB Day observation was proposed by the International Union against TB and Lung Diseases and subsequently in 1996 WHO joined IUTLD.

Elaborating on the importance of creating awareness on the disease and the support of the people in totally controlling the disease, he said, “We believe that no one should be left behind in the fight against TB. This world TB day we call for global effort to find, treat and cure the three million and accelerate progress towards zero TB death, infection, suffering and stigma.”  

He further asserted on the need to aggressively scale up the TB programs and provide coverage for all especially for the most vulnerable groups and areas affected by the disease identified as “TB hotspot.”

He elaborated that the HIV infected individual has approximately eight times greater risk of developing TB than a person without HIV infection.

In India about 60 percent of AIDS has TB and is the leading cause of death.

The treatment site for drug resistant of TB is at Churachandpur and one at JNIMS which is under construction but due to political constraint it has been stopped, he said and added that inadequate facilities in the treatment of TB and lack of infrastructure render hindrances in the fight against TB.

He appealed to the government and concerned authorities to look into the matter seriously for the welfare of the patients for a healthier state.

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