Srinagar: Core Committee Meeting of National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP), SKIMS Soura, was convened on Thursday.
The meeting was held on the visit of Dr. Surya Kant, Professor and Head, Department of Respiratory Medicine, King George Medical University U. P. Lucknow and Chairman North Zone Task Force for NTEP in the Director Board Room, SKIMS in presence of the Director SKIMS and Ex-Officio Secretary to Govt. J & K Prof. (Dr.) Parvaiz Ahmad Koul, officials said.
Zonal Task force is constituted by 6 states Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Utrakhand & Uttar Pradesh and three UTs of J&K, Ladakh and Chandigarh.
The meeting was attended by Chairman NTEP State Task Force Dr. Naveed Nazir Shah, Prof. and Head Pulmonary Medicine, GMC Srinagar, Principal GMC Anantnag Prof (Dr) Syed Tariq Qureshi, HODs of various departments of SKIMS, representatives of Core Committees of SKIMS Medical College, Bemina Prof (Dr) Ashfaq Ahmad Bhat HOD SPM , GMC Baramulla Prof (Dr) Abdul Majeed HOD SPM , Prof (Dr). Khurshid Ahmad Dar, Professor Chest Medicine GMC Srinagar, Dr Ajaz Nabi Koul Additional Professor Infectious Diseases Division SKIMS, Dr Tufail, WHO NTEP Consultant, DTO Srinagar DR Tehjeena, DTO Baramulla Dr Rehana Gulzar, DTO Anantnag Dr Faheem Alam and DTO Pulwama Dr Ruqaya.
Meeting started with welcome note to Prof. (Dr.) Surya Kant and all other participants by Director SKIMS Prof. (Dr.) Parvaiz Ahmad Koul. The meeting was convened by Prof (Dr) Sanauallah Shah, Head, Internal & Pulmonary Medicine SKIMS followed a detailed power point presentation was presented by Dr. Nazia Mehfooz Assistant Professor, Pulmonary Medicine on the performance of NTEP in SKIMS. There was thread bear discussion on the functioning of the NTEP and identification of various issues related to NTEP, viz a viz Up gradation and installation of Diagnostic tools (CBNAAT/TRUENAAT) in Medical Colleges, Stress on active cases findings particularly in immunocompromised persons and bidirectional screening of COVID-19 patients, quality screening of presumptive TB, Notification of TB patients, Sensitization and training of Medical/Paramedical staff at regular periodical intervals. Dr Surya Kant also reviewed the performance of other Medical Colleges: GMC Srinagar, GMC Anantnag, and GMC Baramulla and expressed satisfaction over the performance of each.
Dr Surya Kant ensured the full support for developing nodal DRTB centre at SKIMS and other medical colleges and also upgradation of the existing DRTB centre in CD hospital, Srinagar. He also ensured for the regular and smooth supply of logistics and consumables for free diagnosis and treatment of TB patients of Kashmir Valley. He also advised to medical teachers of Kashmir valley to submit research proposals for tuberculosis and a minimum grant of two lakh rupees would be provided to each medical college for one research project and Rs 30,000 will be awarded to a junior doctor in each medical college for his post graduate thesis related to TB. Pertinent to mention here is the Prime Minister Narender Modi has fixed a deadline of elimination of TB from the country till 2025, 5 years earlier than the global target.
The chairman zonal task force was pleased and thanked all the participants for identification of vital and essential issues related to the NTEP. (GNS)
