Shillong (Meghalaya) [India], March 22 (HBTV): The 100 Days Tuberculosis (TB) Elimination Campaign, launched on December 7 last year across the country and in Meghalaya, has accelerated TB detection, treatment, and awareness efforts.

According to Mebankmen Kharkongor, State Coordinator of Meghalaya HLL Lifecare Limited, the sputum carrier is playing a crucial role in the campaign.

Kharkongor said, 'We start our camp daily in the morning from 10 to 11 am and finish by 4 pm. We collect sputum samples in the machine and deliver them to the Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT) centres, wherever we are posted. For example, right now we are here at the Laitkor sub-centre. We collect around 5 to 10 samples, keep them in the carrier or cold chain pack, and deliver them just after the camp ends. Since we are just 15 to 20 minutes away from the NAAT centre, we ensure swift delivery.'

He highlighted that the Made in India sputum carrier has a battery backup of approximately eight hours.

'The entire process takes approximately two hours, from sputum collection to reaching the NAAT centre and obtaining results. We have five machines and 10 cold chain carrier bags with ice packs,' he added.

(ANI)