MD NHM reviews tuberculosis elimination, health programmes in Rajouri and Poonch

Rajouri, Aug 22: Mission Director NHM J&K Baseer Ul Haq Chaudhary on Friday chaired a meeting here at Dak Bungalow to review the implementation and progress of the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) and other National Health Mission programmes in the Rajouri and Poonch districts.

The discussions focused on treatment and testing protocols initiated in the twin districts under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) to achieve the government’s target of eliminating TB by 2025.

The Mission Director assessed the district and block-level progress, stressing the need for intensive screening campaigns, case notification, and treatment of confirmed cases through active participation of medical colleges, district hospitals, private practitioners, and community involvement. He emphasised maximum utilisation of CBNAAT/TruNat machines, ensuring uninterrupted diagnostic services and improving drug supply chains and treatment adherence through ASHA workers and other healthcare workers working under the NTEP programme with regular follow-up, counselling, and supervision.

Principal GMC Rajouri was asked to train the healthcare workers of both districts to improve their skill and knowledge regarding quality of sample and interpretation of X-rays.

The role of ASHAs and community volunteers in active case finding, especially in remote and hard-to-reach areas, was underlined along with the need for intensified screening drives for vulnerable groups.

Implementation of Nikshay Poshan Yojana to provide timely nutritional and social support through direct benefit transfers was also reviewed.

The district and block officials were directed to adopt innovative approaches to address logistics, manpower and other challenges in the border and hilly areas of the two districts to achieve TB elimination targets. The MD emphasised that elimination of tuberculosis requires coordinated efforts at every level, from medical colleges and peripheral hospitals to community participation.

The meeting also assessed implementation of programmes for maternal and child health, comprehensive primary health care, non-communicable diseases, and other flagship health initiatives. The Mission Director urged officers to create robust monitoring and accountability mechanisms, ensuring real-time data analysis and timely interventions.

The meeting was attended by Dr Amarjeet Singh Bhatia, Principal of GMC Rajouri; the State Tuberculosis Officer of Jammu; the Chief Medical Officer of Poonch; the Medical Superintendents of GMC Rajouri & DH Poonch; the HoD of Chest Disease, Medicine & Gynaecology of GMC Rajouri; the FA & CAO of GMC Rajouri; the State Nodal Officer of NHM, J&K; the Divisional Nodal Officer of NHM, Kashmir; the Programme Manager of NTEP, NHM J&K; the District Tuberculosis Officers; the Block Medical Officers; the District Programme Managers & Accounts Managers; and the Divisional and District ASHA Coordinators, among others.

The Mission Director reiterated the government’s strong resolve to achieve a TB-free India as per national commitment and called for renewed commitment to accelerate progress towards the elimination of tuberculosis from J&K.