Government Launches Nationwide Crusade to Conquering Tuberculosis: A Step Towards a Healthier Future
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Union Health Minister J P Nadda announced a major scaling up of the 100-Day Intensified TB Elimination Campaign, initially launched in 445 districts, to cover all districts in India. The campaign, aimed at accelerating the fight against tuberculosis, has already yielded impressive results since its launch on December 7 last year.
According to Nadda, 7.19 lakh new TB cases were notified during the campaign, with approximately 2.85 lakh cases being asymptomatic and may have gone undetected without the stratified screening strategy. The campaign, which has been implemented using a “whole of the society” and “whole of the government” approach, has seen remarkable success in improving detection and treatment of TB cases.
Nadda made the announcement at the World TB Day 2025 Summit, where the theme was “Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver.” The minister reaffirmed India’s commitment to achieving a “TB-Mukt Bharat” (TB-free India) and lauded the campaign’s strategy of deploying cutting-edge technology, including handheld X-ray units and upfront Nucleic Acid Amplification Testing (NAAT), to screen and diagnose cases.
The campaign, which has been highly effective in bringing vital screening and diagnostic services to remote and underserved areas, has also seen impressive numbers of people screened and treated. Over 13.46 lakh “Nikshay Shivirs,” or community screening and awareness camps, have been organized in districts, bringing essential TB services to the doorstep of crores of people. Treatment coverage in India has also increased significantly, from 59% to 85%.
The campaign has also seen the involvement of a large number of participants, including over 5,000 MLAs and 10,000 gram panchayats, as well as support from 22 ministries. The Union Minister concluded by announcing the expansion of the campaign to cover all districts in India, citing the successes achieved so far and the potential for further growth.
The campaign’s achievements are a testament to its innovative approach, which has leveraged modern technology to improve case detection, reduce diagnostic delays, and ensure timely treatment initiation, particularly for vulnerable populations. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has also played a significant role in the campaign, with innovations like RT-PCR machines used during the Covid pandemic being adapted for use in TB screening. Indigenous diagnostic kits developed by the ICMR have reduced the cost and improved efficiency of TB detection, while handheld X-ray machines with AI support have helped detect asymptomatic TB cases.
Original Source: https://health.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/policy/govt-to-expand-tb-elimination-campaign-across-country/119450944
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Publish Date: 2025-03-25 07:06:00
