India Launches 100-Day TB Elimination Campaign
In a significant step towards combating tuberculosis (TB) in India, the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda, has launched an intensified 100-day TB elimination campaign. The event took place in Panchkula, Haryana, and was attended by notable figures including Haryana’s Chief Minister, Shri Nayab Singh Saini, and Health Minister, Smt. Arti Singh Rao. The campaign aims to identify and treat missing TB cases, especially among high-risk groups, across 347 districts nationwide. This initiative is part of India’s broader goal to achieve a TB-free nation, known as “TB-Mukt Bharat.”
A Renewed Commitment to TB Elimination
During the launch, Union Health Minister Shri Nadda emphasized the government’s steadfast commitment to eradicating TB. He stated that this focused 100-day campaign is designed to accelerate efforts in the 347 districts most affected by the disease. The Minister reflected on the long history of TB in India, noting that it was once viewed as a “slow death.” He pointed out that despite numerous campaigns since 1962, the Prime Minister’s vision in 2018 to eliminate TB before the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals deadline has provided new momentum to the fight against this disease.
Shri Nadda shared that the campaign’s primary goal is to quickly detect and treat TB patients. He highlighted the importance of early detection and the role of over 1.7 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs in facilitating this process. The government has also expanded diagnostic services, increasing the number of laboratories from 120 in 2014 to 8,293 today. This significant enhancement in infrastructure is crucial for improving TB treatment outcomes.
Innovative Strategies for Patient Care
The Union Health Minister outlined several innovative strategies aimed at making TB services more patient-friendly and decentralized. He mentioned the introduction of a new daily regimen of drugs for sensitive TB, which has improved the treatment success rate to 87%. Additionally, the government has provided Ni-kshay support worth Rs 3,338 crore through direct benefit transfers to over 1.17 crore TB patients. Recently, the support amount was increased from Rs 500 to Rs 1,000, along with the addition of energy boosters to aid in the nourishment of TB patients.
Shri Nadda also announced that it is now mandatory for private practitioners to notify any new TB cases. This requirement has led to an eight-fold increase in TB notifications from the private sector. He noted that the rate of TB decline in India has doubled from 8.3% in 2015 to 17.7% today, surpassing the global average. Furthermore, TB-related deaths in India have decreased by 21.4% over the past decade, showcasing the effectiveness of the government’s initiatives.
Collaborative Efforts and Future Directions
Shri Nayab Singh Saini, the Chief Minister of Haryana, expressed his enthusiasm for the campaign’s launch in his state. He assured that Haryana would play a vital role in India’s fight against TB. The Chief Minister highlighted the government’s focus on the “4Ts” strategy: test, track, treat, and technology. He emphasized the importance of intensified testing, which has led to the discovery of new TB cases that are treated at no cost.
Smt. Punya Salila Srivastava, Union Health Secretary, reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring a steady supply of medicines and consumables. She called on all sectors of civil society to actively participate in making the campaign a success. During the event, Shri Nadda unveiled national guidelines for a new drug-resistant TB regimen, BPaLM, aimed at standardizing treatment for patients with drug-resistant TB.
The campaign also introduced “Ni-kshay Vahaan,” mobile vans designed to detect and treat TB patients across the country. This initiative underscores the government’s commitment to making TB services accessible to all, especially in remote areas. The campaign aims to enhance case detection and reduce mortality rates through advanced screening technologies and increased nutritional support for patients.
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