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Sikkim became first state to release TB Preventive Medication

TB

On Wednesday, Sikkim became the first state in the country to implement Programmatic Management of TB Preventive Treatment (PMTPT).

To launch PMTPT, all district TB centres held a special function in each district. According to a press release, the State TB Cell, in collaboration with the district TB Cell, held a programme at DTC, Gangtok, which was attended by Health Director General-Cum-Secretary Dr. Pempa T. Bhutia as the chief guest.

Sikkim is the first state in the country to begin TPT therapy, according to state TB officer Dr. Ashok Rai. The NTEP Sikkim family is working hard to eradicate tuberculosis from the state by 2025 or sooner, and TPT can help them achieve this goal, he said.

Previously, only the NTEP programme provided treatment for tuberculosis disease; however, with TPT, TB infection can now be treated as well, saving patients from developing active tuberculosis, he added. Beneficiaries are also given advice on how to take their medications, how long they should take them, and how to deal with minor side effects.

TPT will be carried out in stages, beginning with primary contacts of bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis cases. After ruling out active TB disease, co-morbidities such as cancer, dialysis patients, and patients on immune suppressants will be given TPT in the second phase. Health workers, for example, will be taken in the next phase.

TPT medicine was distributed to 12 East District beneficiaries and a total of 27 State beneficiaries on that day.

Dr. Tshering Laden, principal director-I, who has worked for the State TB programme for 11 years, shared her experiences. She assured the team of her full support and expressed her willingness to return to the State TB programme after retirement.

Dr. Pempa T. Bhutia praised the team for their hard work. He also mentioned that the department has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Wipro GE Healthcare and Alkem for tuberculosis mitigation in the state. According to the press release, he promised all possible support from the Health Department as well as from his own level.

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