Following the World TB day theme of the year, ‘Wanted: Leader for a free TB world’, District TB Control Society, Leh observed the day on March 24 at District TB Centre, SNM Hospital, Leh.

An awareness rally was flagged off by Moses Kunzang, ADC, Leh from Chowkhang Vihara and culminated at SNM Hospital. Students from different schools holding the placards spread awareness about the disease to the people.

Motup Dorjay, CMO, Leh said, “TB is caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium Tuberculosis. TB bacteria are spread by the people with active TB disease through coughing and sneezing which are carried in the air as tiny water droplets. If you breathe in some TB bacteria, they may multiply in your lungs thus causing the disease. People suffering from TB should cover with a handkerchief while sneezing and coughing to not get it spread.”

He said, “Though the Prime Minister vision to eliminate TB in India is by 2025 but Ladakh is striving to eliminate it by 2022. I have worked in the TB department for long and seen that the numbers of TB patients are decreasing in Ladakh with each year.”

He further informed about the newly developed Apps that can detect the symptoms of TB.

Nurzin Angmo, DTO, Leh said, “In the world, 1 crore TB patients are there out of which 28 lakh patients are in India. There is a need to become a leader in a society to end TB disease and everyone should stand to fight against it.”  

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease, which is of two types, Pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB. The former is most common and is occurred in the lungs. The latter type of TB is referred to the TB involving organs other than the lungs such as lymph nodes, abdomen, uterus, skins, joints, bones etc. Pulmonary TB is communicable disease while extrapulmonary is a non-communicable disease.

While briefing about the Revised National TB Control Program (RNTCP) objective and the role she informed that in the year 2017, there were 121 TB patients in Leh, out of which 5 death cases are 63 cured patients, 14 relapse case in which two were cured later and two are still kept under modified DOTS. 

Presently, there are 78 TB patient in Leh out of which 70 patients are locals and 8 are non-locals.

She further added that the patient, who has the symptoms of TB, must visit the hospital and get the checkup done. Today there are free medical facilities available in the hospital and latest gene expert techniques for diagnosis in Leh. However, we also have designated microscopic centre in all region of the district where people can get their sputum checked.

Dr. Thinles, Physician Specialist, SNM Hospital, Leh said, “The TB patients should undergo the treatment very seriously and should strictly take the medicine course on the prescribed days and months. If we fail to take the medicine properly, the bacteria of TB can be reactivated in our body which later poses more danger. In such a case, the earlier used medicine would not work anymore and have to take medicines with stronger dosage and more side effects.”

In the end, best slogan poster was awarded prize money.