Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, OCT 23 (NPN): Nagaland has been allocated more than 60 artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled portable handheld X-ray machines to strengthen tuberculosis (TB) screening, with around 38 currently available in the state, as the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) intensifies efforts to identify missing cases and reduce TB deaths.
This was highlighted by state TB officer, Dr. Akum Jamir, while chairing a sensitisation programme on updates in TB under NTEP for private practitioners here on Friday. More than 40 private practitioners attended the programme.
Dr. Akum said the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan strategy focused on identifying undetected cases, preventing new infections and reducing deaths through intensified screening and community participation.
The AI-enabled X-ray machines would help detect TB, including among individuals who might not exhibit prominent symptoms.
He said screening was being intensified in high-risk villages and among vulnerable groups, including people aged 60 years and above, malnourished individuals and those with other risk factors.
In Dimapur, which has the highest reported TB burden in Nagaland, the broader screening approach outlined during the programme included individuals aged 14 years and above.
Emphasising early and accurate diagnosis, Dr. Akum stressed that all suspected TB cases should undergo upfront nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT), while microscopy should be used for follow-up cases in line with programme guidelines.
On nutritional assistance, he said eligible TB patients received Rs. 1,000 per month throughout their treatment under the Nikshay Poshan Yojana, with the amount transferred directly to their bank accounts. He highlighted the importance of Aadhaar seeding to ensure beneficiaries received the assistance.
Dr. Akum also called on private practitioners and willing individuals to support patients through the Nikshay Mitra initiative, which enables donors to adopt TB patients and provide supplementary nutritional assistance, including food baskets.
To expand grassroots participation, he highlighted plans for house-to-house awareness and screening activities involving gazetted officers, youth volunteers and National Cadet Corps (NCC) members.
The programme also featured sessions by Dr. Collins Z Sono, Medical Consultant, World Health Organization (WHO), on updates in the management of drug-resistant tuberculosis and the new regimen for TB preventive therapy. Dr. Collins said Nagaland was estimated to be missing 1,000 to 2,000 TB cases and had achieved an 18% reduction against a target of 80%.
State Public-Private Mix (PPM) Coordinator, NTEP, Temjenochetla Ao, said 48.2% of people in Nagaland sought healthcare in the private sector. She added that 67% of TB cases among private-sector patients were clinically diagnosed, while 33% were offered Universal Drug Susceptibility Testing within 15 days. The median cost incurred by patients receiving treatment in the private sector stood at Rs. 20,000.
The programme sought to strengthen collaboration between the public and private healthcare sectors to improve TB detection, ensure timely diagnosis and treatment, and accelerate Nagaland’s progress towards TB elimination.
At the programme, Indian Medical Association (IMA) president Dr. D. R Sharma, presented the response from private practitioners.
Earlier, chief medical officer Dr. T. Yetovi Tuccu, delivered the opening remarks, while district TB officer Dimapur Dr. Mlato Shikhu, proposed the vote of thanks.
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