By Tripura24.in Bureau
AGARTALA | July 29, 2026: In a significant push toward strengthening community-level health surveillance and accelerating the target for a “TB-Mukt Bharat,” a specialized two-day Tuberculosis Screening and Awareness Program officially commenced today at the Regional Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology (RIPSAT) in Abhoynagar, Agartala.
Organized under the aegis of the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) by the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Tripura, the health camp will operate on July 29 and July 30, from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM daily.
Early Detection and Stigma Reduction in Focus
The primary objective of the two-day drive is to educate students, institutional staff, and residents of surrounding neighborhoods about the early warning signs of tuberculosis (TB), dispel social stigmas surrounding the infectious disease, and facilitate immediate medical diagnostic screenings for suspected cases.
A specialized team comprising senior chest physicians, laboratory technicians, and NTEP field workers is stationed at the RIPSAT campus to provide on-site consultations, conduct preliminary health evaluations, and guide attendees on accessing free diagnostic tests and DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course) medication protocols available across state healthcare centers.
Key focus areas addressed during the technical sessions include:
- Identifying Symptoms: Educating the public on recognizing prolonged coughing (lasting more than two weeks), low-grade evening fevers, unexplained weight loss, and night sweats.
- Promoting Complete Treatment: Emphasizing the vital importance of strictly completing the entire prescribed course of anti-TB drugs without interruption to prevent drug-resistant TB strains.
- Preventive Healthcare: Highlighting proper respiratory hygiene, nutrition management, and routine screening protocols for high-risk contact groups.
”Tuberculosis is completely preventable and curable when detected early and treated with proper medical adherence. This two-day drive at RIPSAT is designed to bring clinical screening directly to the community level, ensuring that no individual delays medical consultation due to a lack of awareness or misapprehension. Our academic community, alongside local health officials, is actively mobilizing students and surrounding residents to step forward for screening, as early detection remains our strongest weapon in eradicating TB from Tripura,” RIPSAT Principal Shri Rishiraj Chhetri stated while detailing the initiative.
Driving Community-Led Health Initiatives
Health officials present at the venue expressed optimism that the active involvement of pharmacy students and academic institutions like RIPSAT will create a ripple effect, training future healthcare professionals to act as grassroots advocates for public health programs across the state.
The department has extended an open invitation to residents from neighboring Abhoynagar and the wider Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) area to utilize the free diagnostic facilities available at the campus on Thursday, July 30.
