Itanagar, Oct 14: Governor K.T. Parnaik has taken a proactive step in addressing tuberculosis (TB) by adopting two patients from the Kamle and Upper Subansiri districts as part of the Ni-Kshay Mitra initiative under the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (PMTBMBA).

In a statement from Raj Bhavan on Sunday, the governor urged community members, including elected representatives, local leaders, NGOs, self-help groups, and businesses, to participate in the initiative as Ni-Kshay Mitras.

Parnaik emphasized that, while TB treatment is largely available at no cost through government health services, Ni-Kshay Mitras play a critical role in providing nutritional support and patient care, ensuring a more comprehensive approach to treatment.

The Ni-Kshay Mitra program enables individuals and organizations to adopt TB patients, offering them essential nutritional assistance throughout their treatment journey.

The governor acknowledged that many TB patients discontinue their treatment due to its long duration but highlighted that the support from Ni-Kshay Mitras can provide crucial nutritional, moral, and emotional encouragement, helping patients to complete their treatment and preventing the rise of drug-resistant TB.

He also stressed the need for increased community engagement to raise awareness about tuberculosis and reduce the stigma associated with the disease, calling for a collective effort to address this public health issue.