Meghalaya on mission mode to help India become TB-free: CM Sangma

CM Sangma said that in recent years, the state government has invested significantly in healthcare, adopting various strategies to ensure quality healthcare in the state

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Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Conrad Sangma today said that as part of a campaign launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make India tuberculosis-free by 2025, the Meghalaya government is committed to achieve this goal.

The Government of Meghalaya in collaboration with World Health Organization (WHO) organised North East Tuberculosis (TB) Summit in Shillong today.

Addressing the event, CM Conrad Sangma highlighted that healthcare is a top priority of the Meghalaya government.

CM Sangma said that in recent years, the state government has invested significantly in healthcare, adapting various strategies to ensure quality healthcare in the state.

He said, though it was challenging, but the state government has made it necessary to establish TB diagnostic and treatment facilities in remote areas. The state government is working towards early detection to initiate prompt treatments by encouraging and educating the state’s people to get screened and treated.

“To nip this menace in the bud, we are ensuring grassroot participation of community members and traditional healers and are taking our initiative on mission mode right to the block level,” said CM Sangma.

With the help of Information Technology (IT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), Meghalaya government has started mapping of every patient in the state. In Ri Bhoi district, the Health Department has started keeping track of all patient records, making them easily accessible to doctors with a single button click. Whichever hospital you visit, the central information system will enable the medical professional to quickly obtain the patient’s medical history, said CM Sangma.

The Chief Minister also informed that there is a significant delay in the diagnosis of tuberculosis, especially among poor people who do not visit a doctor until the symptoms have become severe.

Community participation, enhancing nutrition, treatment innovation, tech integration, wellness and prevention interventions such as awareness about the disease, early screening and maintaining hygiene are some measures that can accelerate the goal to make India TB Free by 2025, said CM Sangma.

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