Government to Initiate 100-Day Campaign for TB Elimination
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New Delhi, Dec 6 (NationPress) The government announced on Friday the launch of a 100-day campaign aimed at eliminating tuberculosis (TB), which aligns with the ‘TB-Mukt Bharat’ vision put forth by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, J.P. Nadda, is expected to inaugurate the campaign in Panchkula, Haryana, alongside Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and State Health Minister Arti Singh Rao on Saturday, as per information shared by the ministry.
This campaign highlights the government's dedication to addressing the challenges associated with TB notification and mortality in the nation under the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP).
India has set a target to eliminate TB by 2025, which is five years earlier than the global goal of 2030.
The initiative will be rolled out across 347 districts in 33 states and union territories, with a focus on enhancing TB case detection, minimizing diagnostic delays, and improving treatment results, especially among high-risk populations.
The 100-day campaign aims to boost program effectiveness on essential output measures such as TB incidence rates, diagnostic coverage, and mortality rates.
Additionally, it aligns with recent policy improvements by the Ministry, including increased financial support for TB patients through the Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana and the integration of household contacts into the social support initiative, Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, as stated by the ministry.
The initiative will utilize the extensive network of Ayushman Aarogya Mandirs nationwide, which have successfully brought TB services to the most remote areas.
According to the latest government statistics, nearly 21.69 lakh TB cases were reported between January and October 2024. While TB notification has been a significant concern in India, recent years have shown substantial improvements.
The incidence rate of this severe infectious disease and related fatalities have significantly decreased in the country.
Specifically, the TB incidence rate in India has dropped by 17.7 percent, from 237 per 100,000 people in 2015 to 195 per 100,000 people in 2023. Furthermore, TB deaths have fallen by 21.4 percent, from 28 per lakh population in 2015 to 22 per lakh population in 2023, according to government data.
