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The Tuberculosis
Association

of India is a Voluntary Organization. Its aims
and objectives are:

- The prevention
- Control
- Treatment &
- Relief of tuberculosis.

Media Centre Activities

SEAR NATCON 2008 - Live

 

6 th & 7 th Sept. 2008

 

PRESS CONFERENCE AT PRESS CLUB OF INDIA

 

A press conference was held before the conference at Pres Club of India on the evening of 6th September 2008 for apprising the press about the First Joint International Conference of South East Asia Region (SEAR) and the 63rd National Conference on Tuberculosis & Chest Diseases (NATCON 2008) from 8th to 10th September, 2008 at India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110003.

 

Dr.V.K.Arora, Chairman Organizing Committee, addressed the members of the press and added that this international Conference will draw consensus on varied topics of public health importance like Tuberculosis, HIV, and lung health. Other prominent speakers on the dais included Dr. Nills Billo of the Union, Dr L. S. Chauhan (DDG TB, GOI), Dr V K Dhingra (Organizing secretary) and Dr Behera (Director, LRS Institute).

 

Two Satellite Pre-Conference Workshops

 

One workshop was held at New Delhi TB Centre on “Public Private Mix (PPM) in resource limited countries”. The welcome address was delivered by honourable Dr.V.K.Arora the Organizing Chairman of First Joint International Conference of South East Asia Region (SEAR) and the 63rd National Conference on Tuberculosis & Chest Diseases (NATCON 2008). He welcomed the participants from all over the SEAR region including various parts of India. Esteemed speakers and pioneers of PPM Dr. V.K. Arora, and Dr Md Akramul Islam from BRAC enlightened the audience on “PPM general considerations” with their rich experience and expertise. Dr Shruti Sehgal Representative from Central TB Division, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and Dr V. K. Dhingra from State TB Training & Demonstration Centre (Delhi State) also spoke on Indian & Delhi state perspective.

 

The participants were taken to a PPM site for hands on training and thereafter participated in a group work on Innovative ways of PPM.

 

  • A consensus statement on PPM was arrived at and included the following:
  • Expand the reach of standardized treatment of TB.
  • Disseminate ISTC (International Standards of TB Care) across all care providers, i.e. promote standardized regimen for 1st line anti-TB treatment
  • Promote rational use of 2nd line TB drugs
  • Strengthen collaborations with professional bodies to include orthopaedics, neurologists, Gynaecologists.
  • Systematic involvement of other sectors- Railways, ESI and other organizations having varying administrative control and geographical spread.
  • Innovative collaborations with NGOs and Private sector.
  • Addressing the issues of private providers/market forces- Regulation/Legislation for anti-TB drugs.

 

Another workshop on “MDR-/XDR - TB” was simultaneously held at LRS Institute of TB & Respiratory Diseases. Dr. L.S. Chauhan, DDG TB spoke on “Epidemiology of MDR TB”. Many eminent speakers drawn from the Faculty of LRS Institute spoke on various topics like Diagnosis, Clinical Presentation and Management Guidelines including the role of surgery in MDR TB. The participants visited the MDR–TB ward and discussed National DOTS Plus Guidelines, operational issues and Infection Control Strategies.

 

8th Sept. 2008
Day ONE of the Conference

 

The First Joint International Conference of South East Asia Region (SEAR) and the 63rd National Conference on Tuberculosis & Chest Diseases (NATCON 2008) started on 8th September at India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110003. Proceedings started simultaneously in two Halls; Hall A namely Stein Auditorium and Hall B (Casuarina). Award winning papers from eminent scientists from all over SEAR countries including India representing organizations like IUATLD, TRC, LRS Institute and NDTB Centre were presented in both halls in the morning session.

 

The Conference was inaugurated by honorable former President of India, Shri APJ Abdul Kalam after the welcome address by the organizing chairman of SEAR-NATCON, Dr. V.K. Arora. The presidential and key note address was delivered by Dr. R.K. Srivastava, President of SEAR-NATCON and DGHS. Next the Patron SEAR-NATCON and President TAI, Dr S.P. Aggarwal addressed the congress followed by the release of a Books written by Dr V.K. Arora and Dr V K Dhingra along with the Souvenir. An HIV positive patient, Ms Celina Menezes spoke with choked emotions to the gathering followed by presentation of awards. Honorable chief guest Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam deliberated in this “Scientific Inaugural Session” and spoke on the importance of tuberculosis and HIV control in resource limited countries and was emphatic when he said that we should do away with resource limitations while tackling health problems of such immense importance. He made the delegates take three TB Oaths, namely:-

 

(a) Every delegate will go back and cure 100 TB patients in a year;

(b) Each delegate spread the message of early detection of TB patients in their region;

(c) Each and every delegate will go back and the pain and suffering of these patients in their respective regions.

 

The inaugural ceremony concluded with a vote of thanks followed by the National anthem.

 

One workshop on “Tobacco & Lung health” and two symposia on “MDR & XDR-TB” and “Infection control strategies” were conducted by an experienced faculty. Talks on “PPM for TB: Blessing or Burden”, “New vaccines for TB: A major global need” and “RNTCP response to MDR-TB in resource limited countries” were presented. Two prestigious orations were delivered namely P.K. Sen Oration by Dr Nils Billo and Lupin TAI Oration by Dr Rajender Prasad. They spoke on “The role of UNION in global lung health” and “MDR & XDR-TB: Problems and solution”. Poster presentations on TB continued to enthrall the delegates.

 

The day ended with a Clinical Meeting at Gulmohar Hall followed by a dinner for the invited faculty.

 

CELINA SPEAKS- STORY OF CELINA IN INAUGURAL click here to view

 

 

9th Sept. 2008
Day TWO of the Conference

 

Proceedings rolled on with a symposium on “TB & HIV co-infection” in Hall A and free paper session on “TB control strategies and epidemiological impact assessment” continued in Hall B. Two Panel discussions one on “TB in migratory and floating population-Programmatic challenges” and COPD were held in both the Halls simultaneously. Dr V.K. Arora moderated the COPD panel discussion which had eminent doctors, namely Dr H. Makker, Dr S.K. Jindal, Dr S.C. chhabra, Dr Raj Kumar and Dr S. Rajpal as panelists deliberated on various aspects of diagnosis, management and prevention of COPD with special emphasis on resource limited countries. It was a very interactive session in which the delegates participated by putting up many questions like prognostic indicators of COPD, prevention and rehabilitation and role of NIV in acute exacerbations. Dr M. Islam from BRAC also shared his experience of managing COPD in Bangladesh.

 

This was followed by a talk on mycobacteriosis : clinical profile and symposia on “newer TB drug development”, “TB & HIV: Indian experience”and “Advances in new diagnostic tests for TB.” In Hall B, free paper sessions on “TB diagnostics and therapeutic issues” and “MDR & XDR-TB” continued along with a workshop on Bronchial Asthma. Poster presentations on Non-TB diseases were also drew attention of the delegates. Scientific sessions progressed continuously without any tea break/interruptions. Delegates took out time from the stimulating scientific deliberations to visit the attractive stalls in the exhibition area and networked with other delegates at the Lounge area with Wi-Fi facilities.

 

After the scientific feast, gastronomic delights and cultural treat for the eyes were offered to the delegates in the Banquet at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.

 

INTERVIEW - TB Manager

 

Interview with Bhutan's TB manager at SEAR_NATCON click here to view

 

10th Sept. 2008
Day THREE of the Conference

 

The conference progressed with renewed vigour on the concluding day with a symposium “Childhood Lung Health” in Hall A and Panel discussion by eminent faculty on “Bronchogenic Carcinoma” in Hall B. This was followed by enthralling talks on “High dose INH therapy in MDR TB in resource limited countries” by Dr S. K. Katiyar of Kanpur  and on “Vaccination against TB” by Dr Kumarswami.

 

In Hall B, free paper sessions on “Non-TB pulmonary diseases” and some assorted papers continued along with a workshop on “Conducting clinical trials for development of new TB drugs”. Miscellaneous poster presentations continued during the sessions.

 

Hall A had TAI oration on ‘Progress towards MDG in SEAR countries” and some very interesting talks on topics like “Obesity and lung health”, “Shortening TB treatment-TRC experience”, “Role of surgery in tuberculosis in resource limited countries”, TB/HIV collaborative activities, Advocacy in TB control and Public Private partnership in RNTCP by eminent speakers.

 

The congress concluded with a glittering valedictory function and a host of important conference declarations.

 

MESSAGES

 

MESSAGE BY DR. H MAKKER MD. FRCP (PULMONOLOGIST), U.K. click here to view
MESSAGE BY DR. BUDDHRADASA KALURACHCHI PRESIDENT OF CMAPT (SRI LANKA) click here to view

 

To download please  Refer Below Formats

 

COPD Fact sheet (Media) click here
FACT SHEET ON ASTHMA (media) click here
Fact sheet on sleep disorders click here
HIV fact sheet F click here
MDR & XDR-TB Fact Sheet click here
Pneumonia fact sheet click here
Press Release TB status Delhi F click here
Press release TB Status India NDTB 2 click here
smoking fact sheet click here
TB Diagnosis fact sheet click here

 

 

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