Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Saturday launched a 100-day intensified nationwide campaign from Panchkula district of Haryana to eliminate Tuberculosis. The aim of this campaign is to make India – TB Free nation. This 100 days campaign is part of National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) (2017–2025).
-Hon’ble Mr. J.P. Nadda
TB is caused by bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis, that mainly affects the lungs, but can also affect other parts of the body – brain, spinal cord, or the area around the heart. It can be treated with antibiotics but can be serious if not treated. Skin tests, blood tests, and x-rays can help to diagnose TB.
India, Indonesia, China, the Philippines, and Pakistan account for 56% of the global TB burden.
Positive Outcomes –
TB-related deaths have declined by 21.4%, from 28 per lakh population in 2015 to 22 per lakh population in 2023.
TB incidence rate decreased by 17.7%, from 237 per 100,000 in 2015 to 195 per 100,000 in 2023.
NTEP Achievements-
Enhanced Diagnosis – conducted 1.89 crore sputum smear tests and 68.3 lakh nucleic acid amplification tests in 2023.
Improved quality care : Holistic treatment – Addressing co-existing health conditions like malnutrition, diabetes, HIV, and substance abuse.
Government’s financial support – Rs 3,338 crores have been disbursed through the Ni-kshay programme to over 1.17 crore beneficiaries. The monthly nutritional support under the Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana has recently doubled from Rs 500 to Rs 1,000.
TB preventive treatment – 15 lakh beneficiaries received.
NTEP introduced comprehensive care packages and decentralized TB services.
Goals of the Campaign-
- It is to be to be implemented in 347 districts, across the nation and especial focus on districts with higher TB mortality, lower presumptive examination rates, and incidence rates above the national average.
- Improving case detection- Finding and treating ‘missing TB cases’
- Reducing TB deaths significantly
- Reducing diagnostic delays -The initiative includes deploying AI-enabled portable X-ray units and advanced molecular diagnostic tools to enhance early detection. Mobile diagnostic units, “Ni-kshay Vahaan,” to enhance accessibility to TB care, particularly in remote areas.
- Enhancing treatment outcomes, particularly for vulnerable populations, addressing the socio-economic impact of the disease.
- Special efforts will be taken for screening vulnerable populations, including individuals over 60 years of age, smokers, diabetics, alcoholics, former TB patients, close contacts of TB patients, malnourished individuals, and those living in congregate settings such as prisons, old age homes, orphanages, and shelters.
Social Initiatives
The initiative takes a comprehensive approach that includes sensitization, organizing camps, ensuring adherence to treatment, and reducing stigma. Stakeholders will work to raise awareness about TB within their communities, assisting the health department in identifying affected individuals for early diagnosis and treatment. Efforts will also focus on reducing stigma to encourage more people to seek timely diagnosis and medical intervention.
The Medical Bulletin
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