Mission Director NHM J&K Baseer Ul Haq Chaudhary today chaired a meeting here at Dak Bungalow to review the implementation and progress of National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) and other National Health Mission Programs in the Rajouri and Poonch District. 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 on maximum utilisation of CBNAAT/TruNat machines, ensuring uninterrupted diagnostic services and improving drug supply chains and treatment adherence through ASHA workers and other health care workers working under NTEP program with regular follow-up, counselling and supervision.
Principal GMC Rajouri was asked to train the Health Care 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 emphasized that elimination of tuberculosis requires coordinated efforts at every level from Medical College, peripheral hospitals and through community participation. The meeting also assessed implementation of programs 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 GMC Rajouri; State Tuberculosis Officer Jammu, Chief Medical Officer Poonch, Medical Superintendents of GMC Rajouri & DH Poonch, HoD Chest Disease, Medicine & Gynaecology GMC Rajouri, FA & CAO, GMC Rajouri; State Nodal Officer, NHM, J&K, Divisional Nodal Officer, NHM, Kashmir; Programme Manager NTEP, NHM J&K; District Tuberculosis Officers, Block Medical Officers, District Programme Managers & Accounts Managers, 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 elimination of Tuberculosis from J&K.