Minister Basnet stresses making anti-tuberculosis campaigns effective

Kathmandu: Minister for Health and Population Mohan Bahadur Basnet has urged for effective the campaign launched to eliminate tuberculosis by identifying the patients reaching every doorstep.

Inaugurating the second-phase program under the 'Tuberculosis-free Nepal Campaign' organized at Chautara Sangachowkgadhi municipality of Sindhupalchowk today, Minister Basnet pointed out the need to diagnose the disease first to eliminate it. Minister Basnet shared, 'The campaign, launched three years ago to eliminate the disease, has now been implemented in an additional 100 local levels.'

Public awareness is the most important to cure and eliminate the disease, and the three tiers of government should work together for the same, he mentioned. Emphasizing the need to pay attention to prevent the disease by creating public awareness instead of treatment after suffering from disease, Minister Basnet also stressed protecting the citizens from malnutrition.

Minister Basnet clarified that the role of local government is important rather than federal and provincial governments to eliminate TB. Explaining that Nepal got a victory against COVID-19 even after asking for a vaccine against COVID-19, he thanked all for their engagement for the same.

Director General of the Department of Health Services, Dr. Sangeeta Kaushal Mishra, shared that TB accounted for 50 percent of the deceased. She viewed that it was possible to eradicate the through participation of the community level for the eradication effort.

Calling for increasing investment in treating TB patients, she pledged that the Department could work consistently for the capacity enhancement of the health providers. She emphasized partnership among the NGOs, community, and media and social awareness on this infectious disease to eradicate it.

Director of the National Tuberculosis Control Centre, Dr. Prajjwal Shrestha, shared that 229 TB patients were diagnosed yearly in Nepal. Most of the cases of TB were found in Bagmati, Madhesh, and Lumbini provinces, according to him. Chautara Sangachowkgadhi Municipality Mayor Krishna Prasad Sapkota pledged to prioritize this campaign in the municipality's policy, budget, and program.

RSS