World Tuberculosis Day
World Tuberculosis Day 25 March, 2010 – It’s unusual for a farmer to even partake in a marathon, and more so when he wins the race.
A farmer from Kajeena in Haa, Jamyang, caused many jaws to drop and uncontrollable laughter after that, when he bagged the first prize in the open marathon. He completed the 15 km race in an hour and three minutes.
The open marathon was organised in Haa to mark World Tuberculosis (TB) Day.
Around 160 participants took part in the open marathon themed: “On the Move against Tuberculosis: Innovate to Accelerate Action”.
In the women’s category, a student of Ugyen Dorji higher secondary school, Sonam Choden, completed the eight-kilometre race within 50 minutes to secure the first position.
Students from UDHSS and the engineering cell school (ECS) IMTRAT, business people, civil servants, teachers, and farmers in Haa participated in the marathon.
“We’re happy that about six farmers took part in the run,” said the dzongkhag sport association (DSA) secretary, Thinley Tenzin.
The dzongkhag medical officer (DMO) Dr Ugyen Tshering said the move was indeed an innovative way of raising awareness about TB, which served as a new approach to providing support from members of the community to TB victims.
“World TB Day is designed to build public awareness that it today remains an epidemic in much of the world, causing deaths to several million people each year, mostly in the third world,’’ Dr Ugyen Tshering said.
Bali BHU-I, between 2009 till date registered eight TB cases, of which four were cured and the remaining four were undergoing treatment.
The open marathon was jointly organised by the dzongkhag health office (DHO), dzongkhag sports association and Katsho lower secondary school, with funding from DHO.
The Haa dzongda, Karma Weezir, awarded the cash prizes and certificates to the winners.
TB is the second most common cause of death in the world, killing almost two million people annually.
Source: kuenselonline