Deputy Commissioner, Vishesh Mahajan flagged off a TB Sputum Collection and Awareness Van at the district headquarters today. The van was flagged off by the District Health Society for active on-road sputum testing of suspected TB patients and their treatment.
Speaking on the occasion, the DC announced that an awareness van will visit every block of the district to identify active cases of TB. The campaign will raise awareness about the disease and its symptoms and inform screened individuals about the free treatment process.
He emphasised India’s goal to eliminate TB by 2025 under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP), highlighting the importance of community-led participation and timely identification of patients. He also called for collective efforts to make the district TB-free and urged health authorities to take all necessary measures to eliminate the disease and raise public awareness about prevention.
Chief Medical Officer, Dr Ab Hamid Zargar also delivered a brief note on tuberculosis, its treatment and eradication and appealed to the public of District Doda to come forward for voluntary testing so that TB can be eradicated by 2025 as set by the Government of India.
Sanjeev Kumar, ACR Doda; Sumit Sharma, Accounts Officer; and other health functionaries were present during the flag-off ceremony.