Jajpur: Ten mining companies attended an advocacy-cum-sensitisation workshop on TB organised by REACH in association with the District TB Cell and supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Jajpur today. The Additional District Magistrate, Jajpur, chaired the meeting.
TB is a major public health challenge across the country and miners are considered a vulnerable population for TB according to India’s National Strategic Plan for 2017-2025. The objective of the meeting was to sensitise mining agencies on the importance of ensuring TB notification from their respective mines and catchment areas, and supporting proper treatment for TB patients. Some of the companies present at the meeting included IMFA Mines, JSL, OMC and Emami Cements Ltd.
Speaking at the workshop, Additional District Magistrate, Jajpur, Mr. Santosh Kumar Mishra IAS, said, “Mines should make TB an important component in the annual health screening of employees.”
Also speaking at the workshop, CDMO, Dr. Baris Kumar Dash, said, “Over the years, TB medicines have changed and the strategies to tackle TB have also changed. The Health Department and community needs to work hand-in-hand to adapt to these changes.”
In 2018, nine major mining industries in Odisha, including NTPC, NALCO, MCL, JSPL and OMC signed Letters of Intent (LoIs) with the Zilla Swasthya Samiti to join the TB response under the Employer Led Model for TB Care and Prevention in Anugul and Keonjhar districts. Under the ELM, employers take on the responsibility of identifying and linking employees with TB symptoms to services in the RNTCP and supporting those affected by TB.
Joint Director, TB, Dr. M. S. Munnir said, “TB is a curable disease. If polio can be eliminated, then why not TB? We need to join hands to achieve a TB-free India.”
Senior Medical Officer of REACH, Dr. Pankaj Dhingra, said, “Today’s workshop saw the senior management of mines in Jajpur, administration and state RNCTP coming together on a common platform to strengthen TB control efforts among miners in the district. We are confident that in the coming months we will see the implementation of the ELM for TB.”
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