World TB Day Observation-KERALA
State Level Activities

Press Conference:
Minister for Health Sri. P. Sankaran convened a press conference at Mascot Hotel, Trivandrum on 22/3/03. Press Conference was attended by media persons from all the vernacular and National dailies and visual media. Minister explained about the present status of RNTCP in the state and also the objectives of the World TB Day observation. State TB Officer participated in the press conference and gave the details regarding the World TB Day observation planned. There was good coverage on the conference in the media on 23/3/03 and 24/3/03.

All India Radio:
There were radio talks and phone-in programmes in all the four AIR stations in the state.
Trivandrum AIR- by State TB Officer –10 minutes
Devikulam-Idukki AIR (FM)- by WHO consultant- 10 minutes
Kozhikkode AIR- by DTO and Cured Patients-30 minutes
Kannur AIR - by DTO, WHO consultant-30 minutes, Cured patients-30minutes

Television:
Both Doordarshan and Asianet aired 30 minutes programmes on RNTCP. Surya TV has produced an exclusive programme on COMBI PLAN for IEC in Kerala and will be telecasting on 12nd April 2003.

Doordarsan- 30 minutes documentary in the programme "HELLO DOCTOR" on 24th March from 5.00 PM to 5.30 PM. In the programme, Dr. VK Rajan, Director of Health Services, Dr. B Mahilamani, State TB Officer and Dr. S. Ghosh, Prof of Respiratory Medicine, Medical College Trivandrum talked on RNTCP. Three cured patients, Mr. Ahmed, Mr. Vijayan and Smt Jaya were interviewed by Dr. Sreenivas. A, Medical Officer of State TB Cell. The programme had wide coverage and was well appreciated. The programme was re-telecasted at 8.00 PM on 28/3/03 .

Asianet- In the health programme –"PULSE" a 30 minutes programme, RNTCP and World TB Day was covered well on 23/3/03 at 2.30 PM. State TB Officer, STDC Director, MO-STDC and Cured Patients participated. Dr. SS Lal, WHO consultant anchored the programme. The programme was re-telecasted 3 times in the week.

State Level Function.

State Level Function was conducted as a joint venture of State and Trivandrum District TB Societies, State and Trivandrum District TB Association, Indian Medical Association, Rotary International and other NGOs including Mahila Swasth Sangh (MSS) workers. An organizing committee chaired by the Director of Health Services and State TB Officer as the convener was responsible for the conduct of the function.

A workshop was conducted at Trivandrum with all the District TB Officers and Senior Treatment Organisers of the state to prepare an action plan for the observation of World TB Day on 5/3/03. In the workshop action plan was prepared for the observation of World TB day in all Districts and Tuberculosis Units headquarters.

It was decided to conduct month long IEC activities starting with the World TB Day. The valedictory function will be held on 24th April 2003.

Activities on World TB Day

  1. Public function:

    2. A large public function was organized at Kanakakunnu Palace at Trivandrum from 10.00 AM onwards. 100 Cured patients, 200 Mahila Swasth Sangh (MSS) workers and more than 150 general public participated in the gathering. The function began with lighting the lamps by cured patients. Cured patients offered flowers to the dignitaries in the dais. (These jesters were carried out in all the district and TU level functions in the State.) Sri. K Ramamoorthy, Secretary, Health & Family Welfare inaugurated both the World TB Day Observation and the ‘COMBI Plan’, an IEC campaign focusing on single behavioral change in the State. Dr. VK Rajan, Director of Health Service presided over the meeting. Dr. B Mahilamani, State TB Officer welcomed the dignitaries and the people and stressed the importance of the role of cured patients in the Advocacy of RNTCP. Dr. Everold Hosein, Communication expert from WHO, Geneva spoke on the occasion on COMBI PLAN. Mr. Sathyjith Sarkar, representative from Stop- TB Partnership was also present on the occasion. Community leaders and representatives of various organizations spoke on the occasion.

  2. ‘MUKTHI’ RNTCP newsletter was released by Health Secretary.
  3. State level Inauguration of ‘MUKTHI’, a self-help group of cured patient was done on the occasion.
  4. Interaction of Cured Patients: Interaction of Cured Patients followed the public function. Cured patients shared their experiences with the public and TB workers.
  5. Cured Patients Rally: In the afternoon, there was a rally of the Cured patients, TB workers and Public. Around 300 people participated in the rally.

  6. CME for MSS workers:An orientation about RNTCP and DOTS was done for MSS workers during the day. 200 MSS workers participated.

  7. Painting/Poster Competition for Children: State TB Cell and Indian Medical Association, Trivandrum branch organised a painting/poster competition for children at IMA hall, Trivandrum on 23/3/03. 150 children participated for the event. Prizes were distributed to winners at the public function on 24th march.

  8. Exhibition of Children’s paintings and posters: The paintings and posters of children were exhibited at the venue of World TB Day observation. The Topics were, People with TB, DOTS cured me, it will cure you too, and TB Free World.

  1. Gifts to cured Patients: Cloths were distributed to Cured patients, gifts sponsored by Mr. Mani. V Paul a philanthropist.
  2. Bike Rally by Student IMA: A Bike rally was organized by the Student wing of Indian Medical Association on the World TB Day spreading the DOTS message.
  3. Appreciation Award distribution to Best RNTCP Workers/Institutions in the State: Appreciation Certificate and Mementoes were awarded in the following categories to RNTCP workers and Institutions based on their performance in the year 2002.

    4.  

Best District TB Officer: Dr. K Venugopal, District TB Officer, Alappuzha
Best MOTC: Dr. P V Mohankumar, Medical Officer, DTC, Kottayam
Best STS: Mr. Sasikumar.T, Senior Treatment Supervisor, Mananthavady, Wayanadu
Best STLS: Smt. Vaija Kumary, Senior TB Laboratory Supervisor, Nedungolam, Kollam
Best Laboratory Technician: Smt Sheelaja, Laboratory Technician, Cheranellur, Ernakulam
Best Private Practitioner: Dr. RV Ashokan, Deen Hospital, Punallur, Kollam
Best NGO: Swami Vivekananda Hospital, Muttil, Wayanadu
Best District: Wayanadu District

State level Inauguration of ESI involvement in RNTCP

State level inauguration of the ESI involvement in RNTCP was done at 5.00PM on 24th March 2003 at ESI Hospital, Peroorkada, Trivandrum by the Hon’ble Minister for Labour, Sri Babu Divakaran. Sri. MohanKumar, MLA presided over the function. State TB Officer and representatives of various organizations attended the function.
State level World TB Observation had wide media coverage and Banners were also exhibited 3 days prior to the function. Articles were published in vernacular dailies, Health magazines and professional journals.

District & TU level Functions.

All the 14 districts and 62 TUs observed the World TB day with various activities. Participation of Panchayathi Raj Institutions in the functions was total and praiseworthy. Competitions for school/College students were conducted.

The Most Important Activity was formation of The ‘MUKTHI’ self-help group of cured patients in all Districts and TUs before the World TB Day. The members of this ‘Mukthi club’ were actively involved in organizing and conducting World TB Day observation. The members of Mukthi club resolved to act as strong advocates of RNTCP and also as DOT providers.

In all the Districts and TUs, there were interaction sessions of Cured patients with TB workers and Public. There were Rally of Cured patients in all these places.

Inauguration of Private MCs and DOTS centers were also an important event in the districts. Health education classes were conducted in almost all TUs and PHIs.

Another important event was Inauguration of Microscopy Centre at Govt Ayurveda Medical College, Tripunithura, Ernakulam District on the World TB Day. Sri K. Babu, MLA inaugurated the Microscopy Centre in a function presided over by the Municipal Chairman. District Medical Officer and District TB Officer participated. This gesture will help to expand DOTS to alternate system of Medicine.

Evening DOTS Centre was started at District Hopsital, Kottayam. Volunteers from ‘Japamala’ an NGO at Kottayam act as DOT providers.

Cured patients presented a short drama at a public function in Adimaly, Idukki district.

Many districts conducted street plays on the occasion highlighting the importance of sputum microscopy in diagnosis of TB, importance of DOTS and the need to fight the social stigma.

In all the districts, Press conferences and press releases were carried out properly and there was good media coverage on the activities.

World TB Day Observation-KERALA
Executive Summary

Back to Home Page - Top of Page - Back to Main WTBD'03 Page