CME on TB management held at GMC Baramulla

Baramulla, Dec 19: In order to combat tuberculosis, the Centre for Health Research and Innovation (CHRI) organised a day long Continuing Medical Education (CME) programme at Government Medical College Baramulla on Tuesday.

The focus of the CME was on the Programmatic Management of Tuberculosis Preventive Treatment (PMTPT), a novel concept crucial for the National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP) in India.

The event was conducted in collaboration with the Department of Chest Medicine at GMC Baramulla, and was held under the umbrella of Project JEET (Joint Effort For Elimination of Tuberculosis), a global fund-supported endeavour.

Among the attendees included Professor Dr Naveed Nazir, Chairman of the State Task Force Committee for NTEP J&K, Professor Dr Ruby Reshi, Principal GMC Baramulla, Dr Parvaiz Masoodi, Medical Superintendent AHGMC Baramulla, Heads of Departments, senior faculty members, PG students, and NTEP officials.

Dr Shumail Bashir, Associate Professor and Nodal Officer for NTEP at GMC Baramulla, delivered a comprehensive presentation on PMTPT, shedding light on the treatment algorithm for screening high-risk populations and highlighted the importance of contact tracing among active tuberculosis patients.

The session also featured Dr Wasim Iqbal, Assistant Professor Paediatrics, who highlighted the significance of the PMTPT programme, focusing on the challenges in diagnosing tuberculosis among children.

Dr Naveed Nazir Shah, Chairman of the State Task Committee for NTEP, delved into the challenges associated with tuberculosis management. He stressed upon the pivotal role of Tuberculosis Preventive Treatment (TPT) among high-risk populations and urged healthcare professionals to adopt PMTPT guidelines for screening latent tuberculosis.

Professor Dr Ruby Reshi, in her inaugural address, commended the organisers for addressing a critical national public health concern and updating faculty members on the latest advances in diagnostic and treatment services under the NTEP.

Professor Dr Abdul Majid, Chairman TB Core Committee at GMC Baramulla, discussed ongoing community sensitisation efforts on tuberculosis prevention measures and highlighted outreach health programmes conducted in various locations.

Kifayat Wani, District Supervisor for Project JEET, provided insights into the implementation of the PMTPT programme in district Baramulla.

The event concluded with a dynamic question-and-answer session, fostering dialogue among participants and recognising their valuable contributions to advancing tuberculosis prevention in the area.