To impart knowledge on the basics of TB preventive therapy (TPT) among people who inject drugs and people living with HIV (PLHIV) who are among people most susceptible to latent TB, a state Level Treatment Literacy Workshop on TPT was held at the conference hall of Community Network for Empowerment (CONE) located at Keishamthong Hodam Leirak Machin, Sega Road on Monday.

CoNE president RK Nalinikanta who is also the resource person of the function informed that under the national TB programme Isoniazid Preventive Therapy (IPT) is being carried out as one of the TPT regimen. The patients are provided isoniazid tablets which are to be taken every day for 36 months and the doses are to be taken under periods of six, nine and 12 months, he said. However, for people living with HIV, they have to take the medicine along with ARV on a daily basis. The duration of therapy is long and it also has liver toxicity as a side effect, he said. Although this IPT regimen is effective, it is not user-friendly, he added. Therefore, the programme has become an unpopular intervention in treating Latent TB infection (LTBI), he added.

He continued that nowadays a new WHO approved TPT regimen called 3HP approved by World Health Organisation (WHO) is in the pipeline. It is a combination of Isoniazid and Rifapentine which is safe and well tolerated, he said. 3HP poses less risk of hepatotoxicity (liver toxicity) than IPT. This can be safely prescribed to people who inject drugs, people living with HIV and other PLHIV as well, he added.

The programme was attended by 20 participants representing various community organisations, staff of TI NGOs and PLHIV network from different districts of the state.