The briefing was organized to announce the CSR Engagement Initiative- For Dissemination of TB Messages”; An initiative of the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme, Meghalaya and Meghalaya Rural Bank.
Ashish Yadav, Chairman of Meghalaya Rural Bank, MRB shared that the Bank has initiated the process of displaying TB awareness messages in English, Garo, and Khasi Language on the Bank’s Passbook with an aim to reach out to the population across rural Meghalaya.
Mr Yadav shared MRB’s commitment towards various initiatives of the Government under the financial inclusion program. Mr Yadav shared their association with the State’s TB Elimination Efforts will lead to TB Free Meghalaya and TB Free India. Observing that ‘Health and Nutrition’ is approved common theme for CSR activities by the Corporate and Public Sector Enterprise for the financial year 2024-25.
Dr. M. Syiemlieh, State TB Officer, Meghalaya shared updates on TB scenario in Meghalaya: in 2024, from January to June the State TB Office has registered 2,305 cases as compared to the year 2023 where 4971 TB cases were notified.
Elaborating on the multisectoral approach for TB, it provides guidance to collaborate on interventions required to meet commitments made on TB and the roles that different sectors can play to accelerate progress in TB awareness.
Dr. Syiemlieh thanked the Meghalaya Rural Bank for accepting to disseminate TB messages in the beneficiaries’ passbook. She said the inclusion of these messages in the passbooks is not merely a logistical addition; it is a powerful tool for visual representation. By depicting pictures and providing basic information about TB symptoms, these passbooks become educational resources that can save lives.
Dr Syiemlieh also shared updates on Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, a unique initiative aimed at eliminating TB by involving every sector and individual in society in the fight against TB.
In Meghalaya, Since the launch of this initiative until June 2024, approximately 6,666 nutritional food baskets have been distributed, and around 2,203 TB patients have received support in Meghalaya. Currently, out of 1,742 TB patients who have consented to receive community support, only 406 are receiving assistance, thus needed a support for more than 1300. Dr Syiemlieh urged everyone to step forward as donors or Nikshay Mitras to support TB patients in the State.
Dr Syiemlieh expressed gratitude towards Media Fraternity and requested for their continued support in spreading the TB message to the community. She also requested all the beneficiaries who have received the new passbook with TB information to share the TB message with family and community.
In this initiative, the MRB has printed 10,000 passbooks with TB messages which will be distributed across all the branches in Meghalaya. In this event passbooks printed with TB messages were distributed to 10 beneficiaries. Among these beneficiaries, 3 are currently undertaking treatment for TB and 1 is a TB Champion who now advocating with other TB patients and community to mitigate stigma and address any issue.
The event was graced by health officials from state and district TB Office, officials from Meghalaya Rural Bank, World Health Organisation, The Union together with passbook holder beneficiaries and media personnel.
The participants undertook pledge to eliminate TB from their village / district / state and country.
Everyone can take a pledge on https://pledge.mygov.in/tbday/
TB HAREGA DESH JEETEGA!
