GUWAHATI, June 29 - As part of the effort to involve private and community pharmacists in TB response, the Resource Group for Education and Advocacy for Community Health (REACH) today organised a consultative meeting here to discuss the sustained engagement of pharmacists in the State.
The event was held in partnership with the Assam State TB Cell.
During the meeting, communication materials on TB were formally unveiled and distributed to pharmacists.
These materials include stickers, posters and cards with awareness messages on symptoms of TB and are intended for display and distribution by pharmacists.
Speaking on the occasion Dr NJ Das, SPO, Assam Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) said, �We should start a movement to mobilise all stakeholders to eliminate TB. Everyone, particularly private pharmacists, should come forward to make Assam a TB-free state. We will replicate the pharmacy model and scale it up in other districts as well.�
REACH and the State TB Cell have sensitised nearly 250 pharmacists in three pilot districts � Baksa, Darrang and Kamrup � during the last six months.
In order to promote timely diagnosis and treatment, the initiative encourages pharmacies to refer those with TB symptoms and notify TB cases to the government.
The discussions between the pharmacists and State TB Cell officials emphasised the plan of action to ensure that pharmacists continue to refer patients and help in notifying TB cases, and display information, education and communication (IEC) materials.
H Deori, State Drugs Controller in the Directorate of Health Services, Government of Assam, underlined commitment of his department to eliminate TB from the State.
Appreciating the distribution of IEC materials, he said that there has to be a convergence with the private sector to implement a project of this type.
Several private pharmacists shared their experiences at the meeting.
Dhruba Gogoi, president of the All Assam Registered Pharmacists Association (AARPA), said that the association would involve all its members in this initiative and would also organise counselling sessions for patients.
Dr D Deka, WHO Consultant, presented the key aspects of the RNTCP with a focus on the TB situation in Assam.
