The office of the East Khasi Hills District Tuberculosis officer held a training and sensitization programme on TB elimination for traditional healers at Sohra Community Health Centre yesterday.
TB Officer, Dr. B. Shanpru in her keynote address appealed for cooperation from the traditional healers in the fight for elimination of TB. She explained about the signs and symptoms about the disease and that there are two types of TB, that is Pulmonary and Extra-Pulmonary.
She urged traditional healers to screen patients according to signs such as cough and fever for two weeks or more, loss of weight, loss of appetite, night sweats, blood stained sputum, chills. She said such patients with the symptoms should be sent to the nearest health centers for TB test for diagnosis and treatment.
Dr Shanrpu also explained about TRUENAAT, CBNAAT, sputum microscopy tests, which are free of cost at all TB Testing Units. “TB is curable, if the patients take the medication properly and complete the course of treatment,” she said.
At the programme, certificates were also given to participating traditional healers.
On the same day, the office of the Sub Divisional Medical Officer, Sohra held a programme on ‘Reorientation for VHC members on IEC Register or VHC apps’.
