In a significant move to bolster Assam’s campaign against tuberculosis, Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya adopted 100 TB patients from Kamrup Metro and Nagaon districts on Wednesday, October 22. This initiative falls under the Ni-kshay Mitra program of the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) and took place at the Raj Bhavan in Guwahati.
During the adoption ceremony, the Governor provided nutritional food baskets to five TB patients and recognized five Ni-kshay Mitras and five TB Champions for their exceptional contributions towards eliminating tuberculosis in the state.
Governor Acharya underscored the necessity of community participation and compassion in combating tuberculosis, which remains a major public health issue in India. He expressed his confidence that through collective efforts and sustained engagement, tuberculosis could be eradicated. He characterized the adoption of the 100 patients as a personal commitment and a social responsibility, emphasizing that the fight against TB involves not only medical treatment but also emotional and social support.
The Governor praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiative to transform the national TB elimination campaign into a Jan Andolan, or people’s movement, and called on individuals, businesses, and organizations to join the cause.
Highlighting Assam’s advancements in TB control, Acharya noted a dramatic increase in testing rates-from 842 tests per lakh population in 2022 to 2,915 per lakh. This surge has resulted in earlier detection and more rapid treatment. With a remarkable treatment success rate of 90%, Assam is now recognized as one of the leading states in TB care and prevention.
He further mentioned the implementation of AI-driven solutions, such as the Prediction of Adverse TB Outcomes (PATO) system, which aids in foreseeing complications early and enhancing recovery rates. Thanks to these innovations, the TB mortality rate in Assam has decreased from 3.1% to 2.4%, marking significant progress.
Governor Acharya also commended the 100-Day TB-Free India Campaign and various awareness programs initiated by Raj Bhavan and the State Health Department. These initiatives include educational outreach and the provision of financial and nutritional support for TB patients. Since the start of the Ni-kshay Mitra initiative on September 9, 2022, Assam has registered more than 21,600 Ni-kshay Mitras who are dedicated to offering comprehensive medical, nutritional, and emotional support to TB patients statewide.
Reaffirming his commitment, Acharya stated, “While medical care is essential, it is compassion, empathy, and community involvement that restore dignity and hope to those affected by the disease.”
The event was attended by numerous dignitaries, including Dr. P. Ashok Babu, Commissioner and Secretary of Health and Family Welfare, and S.S. Meenakshi Sundaram, Commissioner and Secretary to the Governor, along with other senior officials from Raj Bhavan, the National Health Mission, and the State TB Cell.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/assam/story/assam-governor-adopts-100-tb-patients-stresses-on-collective-fight-against-tuberculosis-1294078-2025-10-23?utm_source=rssfeed
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Publish Date: 2025-10-23 11:28:00
