By TC News Desk
Agartala, 24th December 2024: The Gomati district TB Forum held a crucial meeting to prioritize the screening and BCG vaccination of vulnerable workers, including construction workers, motor workers, sand workers and those involved in animal farming. The meeting emphasized the importance of preventive measures to combat tuberculosis (TB) in the district.
Dr. Shoumik Chakraborty, the Gomati district TB officer explained the high risk of tuberculosis among these workers due to their exposure to silica particles and bovine TB germs from diseased cattle. “Construction workers work with clay, which contains small grains of silica that can enter the lungs and cause silicosis, increasing the risk of contracting TB,” said Dr. Chakraborty.
Gomati Zilla Parishad Sabhadipati Debal Deb Roy urged public representatives, workers’ organizations, contractors, businessmen, and farmers to take the initiative in getting BCG vaccinations by December. “It is vital to ensure that everyone at risk is vaccinated to prevent the spread of TB,” he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced India’s goal to be free from TB by 2025. In support of this initiative, the Union Health Ministry, in collaboration with the state government, launched a 100-day special campaign through the National Health Mission on December 7.
To ensure the campaign’s success, Gomati district officials, including Saha-Sabhadipati Sujan Sen and Additional District Magistrate Binoy Bhushan Das, held a meeting with officers from various departments, Panchayat Samiti chairmen, and business representatives. “We assure all kinds of support from the district administration. Screening should be further increased, and everyone should be brought under treatment,” stated Das. He instructed Block Development Officers (BDOs) to arrange for 100 percent BCG vaccination in the 21 gram panchayats identified with high numbers of TB patients.
Saha-Sabhadipati Sen emphasized the importance of breaking the chain of transmission and urged everyone to contribute to the effort. “The level and power of transmission decrease with the first dose of the vaccine. Patients should wear masks to prevent spreading the disease,” he said.
Sabhadipati Deb Roy called on all district, sub-division, block, and village level officers, public representatives, and businessmen to become committed allies in the fight against TB. “Our main goal is to provide nutritional supplements to any patient for six months. Currently, 334 TB patients in Gomati district are undergoing treatment. We must also be strict against smoking or tobacco use in workplaces,” he advised.
The meeting concluded with participants taking an oath to eradicate TB, demonstrating a unified commitment to combating the disease and improving public health in the district.
