The office of the District Tuberculosis Officer of Ri-Bhoi in collaboration with the Piramal Foundation organised a sensitisation programme for traditional healers of Umling block, who are members of the Ri-Bhoi Traditional Healers Association, today.
Thirty-four traditional healers from around Umling block attended the programme. The resource person was the District TB Officer, Dr E Kalwing, and the CPM of DISHA, J Pohtam.
Dr Kalwing explained about TB, the history of the disease, the causes, signs and symptoms, treatment and especially India’s goal to eliminate the disease by 2025.
She urged the tribal healers to help in terms of active case finding (ACF), referral of presumptive cases to nearest government testing centres, to support TB patients in their locality for treatment adherence and to be “treatment supporters”.
Pohtam explained about the basics of HIV/AIDS, especially the route of transmission, the preventive methods and the treatment for the people infected by the virus. He also spoke about the law that protects people living with HIV/AIDS, especially against stigma and discrimination.
A Syiemiong, state programme coordinator of the Piramal Foundation, requested the participants to screen their patients who have signs and symptoms of TB since most HIV-positive people are very vulnerable to TB and to refer them for testing. He also informed that there are many ‘Lost to Follow-up’ HIV patients and they are very vulnerable as they can spread the disease to their loved and dear ones. He added that these people may come to traditional healers for treatment since they will hesitate to return to government facilities.
