Under the theme “Diagnose Treat and Cure”, District Tuberculosis Control Society organized ‘World TB Day’ at Lotsawa Auditorium Cultural Academy Leh on 24th March. EC Health Dr. Sonam Wangchuk presided over the function. Other dignitaries were Dr. Phuntsog Wangchuk, CMO Leh, Ashraf Ali Barcha, President Anjuman Imamia Leh, Haji Ghulam Rasool, President Anjuman moin-ul-Islam Leh, sarpanches and representatives of different NGOs also attended the event.

Dr. Motup Dorje, District TB Officer highlighted about the history of tuberculosis and said that TB is caused by Mycobacterium Tuberculosis. During early times, many people used to die of TB till 1952 as there was no treatment for this disease. Later in 1996 revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme was started in the whole world. On 24 March 1982, it was declared by World Health Organization that 24 March will be observed as World TB day under different themes. He further added, “This year the theme is Diagnose, Treat and Cure. WHO has started a strategy from 2015 to 2035 to completely eradicate TB from the world”. Talking about Leh he said that number of TB patient has been declining in Leh since last five years. In 2014, 129 cases of TB were reported in Leh and half of them were from outside Leh district. 30 patients were reported sputum positive, of which 15 were locals and 5 were non-locals”.

He further said that early diagnosis and proper treatment can completely treat TB. All over India the treatment success rate is 88 percent and in Leh it is 92 percent.
EC Health, Dr. Sonam Wangchuk said that we must understand that TB is curable so that infected persons can come forward and take the necessary medicine. He also requested everyone present there and especially the sarpanches to spread awareness and educate the masses about TB in their respective villages, friends and neighbours. He also requested that the religious leader should speak and inform people about different diseases during religious congregations. He assured all kinds of assistance on behalf of LAHDC Leh. He added, “We have all kinds of facilities and equipments available in SNM hospital Leh includingv CT Scan Machine, oxygen plant, centrally heating building etc.”

Physician Dr. Thinles said that TB infection is most likely to occur if you are exposed to someone with TB on a day-to-day basis, such as by living or working in close quarters with someone who has the active disease. There is no precautionary measure to avoid TB, but the only way is to visit the doctor if coughing occurs for more than 2 weeks so that the disease is not spread to others. He further instructed the TB patients to complete the course and not leave the medicine in between. He further suggested timely surveys to check that the disease is not spread to others.

CMO Dr. Phuntsog Wangchuk briefed about the symptoms, causes and treatment of TB. “One must keep his immunity strong so to avoid TB, as people with low immunity are more likely to get infected with such diseases. The disease is associated with a social stigma, so the need is to change the mindset of people towards TB and patient suffering from it. These days TB is curable and can be cured easily by consuming medicine”, he said. To ensure that TB patients are getting the medicines on time, health department has made this medicine available at health centers in the patient’s village only, where the patient has to come and take the medicine in front of the health worker.

Mohd Javed Sarpanch, Ashraf Ali Barcha and Haji Ghulam Rasool also spoke on the occasion.

During the event health workers also presented various skits about symptoms and treatment of TB.