Nikshay Diwas on 15th of every month to raise TB awareness

Prayagraj: District health authorities are all set to observe Nikshay Diwas on the 15th of every month with an objective to eradicate tuberculosis.
Officials of health department on Friday chalked out an elaborate strategy for the event and claimed that testing facility would be available at all 35 TB units and 316 health & wellness camps.
Special programmes would be organised on 15th of every month for the early identification of TB patients, quality treatment and benefits of the schemes. If any holiday falls on 15th, Nikshay Divas will be celebrated on the next working day.
Mission director of National Health Mission (NHM) Aparna Upadhyay has issued a letter in this regard to all the district magistrates and chief medical officers of the state in the same regard.
Under the Tuberculosis eradication programme in the state, the target of 5.5 lakh notifications has been fixed by the Union government. District Tuberculosis Officer Dr AK Tiwari said department is making a collective and sincere efforts to eradicate the disease at grassroots level. He added: “To provide quality facilities for the complete recovery of TB patients in sequence of the instructions of the Central TB Division, Nikshay Diwas is to be observed at all district and block level PHCs\CHCs and health & wellness centers of the district.”
Ahead of Nikshay Diwas, basic health workers i.e Asha workers will visit homes and make the community aware about TB and the organisation of the day.
The Asha workers are also assigned to prepare a list of potential TB patients and bring them to the health unit concerned for screening. Based on availability HIV, diabetes and other tests will be ensured by the community health officer (CHOs).
Apart from this, sputum sample will be collected and sent to the nearest TB testing center by creating a positive ID on the Nikshay portal. Relative to the number of patients coming to OPD on Nikshay Day, sputum test will be ensured for 10% patients.
CHOs would also ensure TB screening of other family members of patients with TB confirmed in the test.