PANAJI
National Tuberculosis Eradication Programme (NTEP) Goa has bagged second place in the TB index for the year 2021 among small States by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, New Delhi.
Dr Govind Dessai, district TB officer, South Goa received the award on behalf of the State at a function organised by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on Thursday.
Thanking all the NTEP staff, PHC, CHC, UHC, SDH, DH, GMC for their support and dedication towards TB Mukt Bharat and TB Mukt Goa, and shouting out the motto, ‘TB Harega, Desh Jeetega’, Dr Ira Almeida, director, Directorate of Health Services (Goa) stated, “Goa is in the elimination phase of TB, thanks to the hard work of the health staff and we must all work together to end TB by 2025.”
Congratulating the NTEP Goa team for winning second place in the TB Index for 2021 in the small State category, Dr Amit Dias, lecturer at the department of PSM at Goa Medical College, emphasised the need to invest in research to develop an effective vaccine to end TB.
“The theme of World TB Day 2022 ‘Invest to end TB. Save lives,’ conveys the urgent need to invest resources to ramp up the fight against TB and achieve the commitments to end TB,” said Dr Dias.
“The Covid pandemic has reversed and slowed our progress towards this goal, and we have to make renewed efforts to wage war against this killer disease just as we did to fight Covid. We need to invest in research to develop an effective vaccine against TB. Together we can make a difference,” added Dr Dias.
On the occasion of World TB Day, a State-level function was held at the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) hall in Panaji by the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme, Directorate of Health Services.
Earlier in the day, a cycle rally was organised in the morning from the DHS building covering the area up to Dona Paula and back to culminate at Azad Maidan in a function. The Director of Health, Dr Ira Almeida was the chief guest and Dr Siona Gomes was the guest of honour.
Dr Manish Gaunekar, State TB Officer welcomed the dignitaries. Dr Ira briefed on the theme of World TB Day 2022 - 'Invest to end TB - Save lives'. The 60 who took part in the rally were felicitated with a medal.
Dr Gaurish Ganjekar compared the event.
For the formal State level function, Dr Rufino Monteiro, president of IMA Goa State was the chief guest. Dr Jyoti Sardessai, director of FDA was the guest of honour. Dr Siona Gomes, deputy director of DHS and Dr Sanjeevani Kenny, associate professor of the department of Respiratory Medicine along with State TB officer Dr Manish Gaunekar welcomed the gathering and briefed about the ongoing activities, special activities of 2021 and achievements of NTEP Goa.
Private practitioners, health centres, multipurpose health assistants, NGOs, TB champions were felicitated for their outstanding contribution to NTEP. The staff of NTEP was felicitated too for achieving the desired targets. Dr Rufino Monteiro appreciated the efforts of NTEP to achieve the desired target for the elimination of TB by 2025. Dr Gaurish Ganjekar compared and Dr Marina Fernandes proposed a vote of thanks.
