The Meghalaya Rural Bank (MRB) has initiated the process of displaying TB awareness messages in English, Garo, and Khasi language on the bank’s passbook with an aim to reach out to the population across rural Meghalaya.
This was informed by MRB chairman Ashish Yadav during a media briefing organised by the State Health Society about the “CSR Engagement Initiative – For Dissemination of TB Messages” at the KJP Assembly Hall here today.
This is part of the initiative of the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme, Meghalaya and Meghalaya Rural Bank.
In this initiative, the MRB has printed 10,000 passbooks with TB messages which will be distributed across all the branches in Meghalaya.
During today’s event, passbooks printed with TB messages were distributed to ten beneficiaries. Among these beneficiaries, three are currently undertaking treatment for TB and one is a TB Champion who is now advocating with other TB patients and the community to mitigate stigma and address any issue.
Yadav shared the MRB’s association with the State’s TB elimination efforts will lead to TB Free Meghalaya and TB Free India observing that ‘Health and Nutrition’ is an approved common theme for CSR activities by the corporates and public sector enterprises for the financial year 2024-25.
State TB Officer Dr. M Syiemlieh thanked the Meghalaya Rural Bank for accepting to disseminate TB messages in the beneficiaries’ passbook. She said the inclusion of these messages in the passbooks is not merely a logistical addition; it is a powerful tool for visual representation.
“By depicting pictures and providing basic information about TB symptoms, these passbooks become educational resources that can save lives,” she said.
Dr. Syiemlieh also requested all the beneficiaries who have received the new passbook with TB information to share the TB message with family and community.
She also updated the function on the TB scenario in Meghalaya. According to her, in 2024, from January to June, the State TB Office has registered 2,305 TB cases as compared to 2023 where 4971 TB cases were notified.
Elaborating on the multi-sectoral approach for TB, Dr. Syiemlieh said that the approach provides guidance to collaborate on interventions required to meet commitments made on TB and the roles that different sectors can play to accelerate progress in TB awareness.
Dr. Syiemlieh also shared updates on Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, a unique initiative aimed at eliminating TB, by involving every sector and individual in society in the fight against TB.
She also informed that in Meghalaya, since the launch of this initiative until June 2024, around 6,666 nutritional food baskets have been distributed, and around 2,203 TB patients have received support in Meghalaya. Currently, out of 1,742 TB patients who have consented to receive community support, only 406 are receiving assistance, thus needing support for more than 1300.
Dr. Syiemlieh urged everyone to step forward as donors or Nikshay Mitras to support TB patients in the State.
She also expressed gratitude towards the media fraternity and requested for their continued support in spreading the TB message to the community.
The event was attended by health officials from State and district TB offices, officials from Meghalaya Rural Bank, World Health Organisation, passbook holder beneficiaries and media personnel.
The participants also took a pledge to eliminate TB from their village, district, State and country.
