DHARAMSHALA: World TB Day was marked in Dharamsala on Sunday, 23 March, at TCV day school, McleodGanj. This year’s TB day theme “Reach the 3 million”, as designated by WHO, emphasizes the need for greater global effort to reach about 3 million TB infected people who currently don’t have access to TB screening, treatment and care. The TB day events organized by Department of Health, CTA through its various health centers aimed to mobilise and encourage the TB patients to come forward to avail the subsidized and free TB services provided by the Department of Health, CTA so that every TB patient have equitable access to TB care in our community and that none of the TB cases is missed.

A Run for TB marathon was organised by Department of Health, CTA in collaboration with Delek Hospital and Tibetan National Sports Association at MacleodGanj on 23 March, 2014 to commemorate 2014 world TB day and to create widespread awareness about TB within the Tibetan community.

A total of 118 runners participated in this marathon including students from Upper TCV, Lower TCV, TCV Gopalpur and Sherab Gatsel lobling along with general public. The event was inaugurated by Health Kalon Tsering Wangchuk. Speaking on this occasion, Health Kalon explained the various TB related preventive and treatment incentives provided to the Tibetan community by the TB Control Program of the Department of Health, CTA through its network health centers and hospitals. He also stressed the need for greater awareness about TB especially among the Tibetan youths studying in various schools and colleges along with members of the monastic community.

First five winners from both boys and girl’s category were awarded prizes by the settlement officer of Dharamsala. In addition, youngest and oldest participant runners were given complementary prizes. Under the girl’s category, the 11 year old Sonam Dekyi, from Upper TCV, bagged both the first as well as the youngest runner prize while Ngawang Soepa, from France, bagged the first prize under the boy’s category.

The students participants of the Run for TB Marathon are requested to submit their writings, either in Tibetan or English, in not more than 200 words under the theme “Youth advocate for a TB free Tibetan community” to the Media section, Public Health Division of the Department of Health, CTA. The writings should clearly express their experience of contributing for TB awareness in the Tibetan community through participation in the world TB day’s marathon event. The three best entries will be published in the DOH newsletter.

The TB day event at Dharamsala was funded by PRM, USA and Tibetan National Sports Association.