Government of India The Ministry of Health has resolved to make India TB free by 2025. Today Thursday i.e. '24 March 2022' is 'World Tuberculosis Day' i.e. 'World TB Day'. World Tuberculosis Day is observed every year on 24 March to raise awareness about the devastating effects of tuberculosis disease and its social and economic consequences. Also, on this day emphasis is placed on ending this global epidemic. On this day in 1882, Dr. Robert Koch discovered TB bacteria. This day is celebrated to commemorate its anniversary.
In the year 2020, despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, India's TB program only saw over 18.04 lakh TB patients."
Lakshadweep (UT) and Budgam district (J&K) are the first places in the country to be declared TB free
Every day about 4,000 people lose their lives due to TB.
Every day about four thousand people lose their lives due to TB and about 28 thousand people fall ill with this preventable and treatable disease. Global efforts to combat TB have saved an estimated 63 million lives since 2019. At the same time, a total of 21.35 lakh TB cases were reported in 2021. In 2021 itself, 22.38 crore vulnerable populations were screened for TB. At the same time, molecular diagnostics has been increased to 3760 NAAT machines. In 2021, the notification of the private sector increased to 6.9 lakh, a growth of 24 percent has been registered in 2020.
India accounts for 30% of the world's tuberculosis patients
Let us all together take a pledge to make India TB free. Actually, this day has been specially made to make people aware about the eradication of this disease. It is to be known that India accounts for 30% of the world's tuberculosis patients. Therefore, it can become a cause of serious problem for our country even today. Prevention and treatment of TB disease is possible.
The central government has taken many important steps to eradicate TB by 2025.
Therefore the central government under the leadership of PM Modi has given top priority to end TB by 2025. Taking a pledge to make a TB-free India by 2025, the central government has called for a mass movement against the disease. The Central Government is making continuous efforts to achieve this goal. More than 12 thousand TB Champions were trained to raise awareness about TB in the society. More than 4.39 lakh TB treatment supporters are contributing in the country. Supplemental nutrition is being given to TB patients through the same Nikshay Poshan Yojana. It is to be known that in 2021, assistance of 294.88 crore was also released to 13.57 lakh TB patients through DBT. Apart from this, free diagnosis and treatment facilities including anti-TB drugs have also been provided to all patients under RNTCP.
Budget allocation for TB in India quadrupled in the last 5 years
Significantly, the budget allocation for TB in India has seen a four-fold increase in the last 5 years. Integrating TB services at all levels within the health system between high-quality drugs, digital technology, the private sector and communities has been used to rapidly reduce the incidence and mortality of TB in the country.”
At least one rapid molecular diagnostic facility available in each district
In the last few years, the country has taken definite steps towards eradicating TB. The sustained efforts of the National Tuberculosis Eradication Program have led to an unprecedented increase in TB information and significant improvements in timely diagnosis, adherence and treatment outcomes. This is an encouraging sign and shows that we now have better access to TB patients and the ability to provide free treatment to patients in both the public and private sectors. India's diagnostic capacity has been significantly enhanced over the years and we now have at least one rapid molecular diagnostic facility available in each district and we are aiming to decentralize it down to the block level.
"Step-up to end TB" program in the country
On Thursday, the Step-up to End TB – World TB Day Summit was inaugurated at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The Step-Up to End World TB Day Summit is not only a step forward towards the call of 2018 to gauge the extent to which India has progressed in the journey of TB eradication, but also It seeks to reiterate its TB commitments and unite discerning people as the country moves to meet its objectives of eradicating TB.
Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel virtually attended this summit as the chief guest. Taking a prominent part in the discussion, he highlighted the rapid pace of India's innovations and achievements to eliminate TB by 2025. Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Dr. Bharti Praveen Pawar was also present in the summit. During this, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya while giving a 'special address' in the program said that 360 degree holistic approach is the cornerstone of TB eradication in India. “We are determined and committed to achieve our honorable PM's vision of eliminating TB by 2025, five years ahead of the TB target set by SDG 2030.
Remember, in March 2018, PM Modi chaired the Delhi End TB Summit in which PM Modi set 202 TB-related targets of 2030, five years ahead of the SDGs. Called to end TB in India by 5
TB has to be fought like the fight against Kovid-19
Referring to the challenges posed by COVID, the Union Health Minister also said that “For more than two years, we have been facing a global pandemic apart from the spread of TB. Both diseases are highly contagious and airborne and severely affect families and communities. “Let us engage various stakeholders and partners in our collective fight against TB through mass movement and mass participation, just as we have supported our fight against COVID-19,” he said.
India's TB program continued even during the Kovid period
Last year, despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, India's TB program saw over 18.04 lakh TB patients. Encouragingly by implementing several innovative strategies post lockdown period the program has managed to come back to its pre-covid level and is back on track to end TB by 2025 in line with PM Modi's vision.
If India decides, India also shows it by doing.
It can be absolutely said about India that when India takes a decision, India also shows it by doing. Indigenously developed cost-effective, point-of-care molecular diagnostic machines were deployed to test both COVID and TB during the time of war against COVID-19 across the country. During this several states and union territories took advantage of door-to-door COVID-19 screening campaigns and integrated TB as well as COVID surveillance strategies.”
