Mail News Service
Chakulia: World Health Day was celebrated today Jodam Health Sub Centre under Chakulia Block. A panel discussion on tuberculosis patients still being treated as social stigmas was held with Sahiya Sathi Normali Hansda presiding the program. This panel discussion was organized in keeping with the TB eradication from Baharagora Vidhan Sabha constituency.
Research Group for Education and Advocacy for Community Health (REACH) consultant Krishnendu Ghosh stated that TB patients were still discriminated against in society. In order to give them their proper place, the educated people of the community especially the youth had to come forward.
Ghosh further stated, �Tuberculosis is not incurable. A full course of proper medication ensures complete cure. TB does not spread by touch. There are certain ill concepts in society that have to be wiped out.�
Normaly informed that tuberculosis checks and treatment were dispensed free of cost at community health centres. She said, �If coughing persisted for a fortnight, it could be a sign of TB. If blood is spotted in the sputum, fever, lack of hunger, weight loss were all signs of TB.
Sahiya Nilima Acharya stated that people still lacked awareness of the disease as a result of which they could not get proper checkups and treatment.
The others who participated in the panel discussion included Namita Mahto, Shibani Nayak, Ranu Mandal, Anima Mahali, Sitamoni Hansda, Sonka Mahto, Shakuntala Soren, Joba Rani Mahto, Tilottama Nayak, Panmoni Hansda, Ban Kumari Diyasi, Shefali Gwala, Phul Kumari Sheet and Sujata Sahu.
