Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that with a 100-day TB elimination campaign starting, India was fighting the disease in a multi-pronged manner with double support for patients, new drugs and technology.
"Our fight against TB just got stronger! Powered by a collective spirit to defeat TB, a special 100-day campaign is starting today with a focus on high-burden TB districts," said Modi.
As part of the National TB Elimination programme, Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda inaugurated a nationwide campaign in Haryana on Saturday to reduce TB cases and mortality.
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The campaign is focused on enhancing detection, reducing diagnostic delays and improving treatment outcomes. It will be launched in in 347 districts of 33 states, where the TB prevalence is higher.
"Under this programme, we have taken detection, tests, treatment and supportive strategies forward in an accelerated way. I feel this 100-day programme will prove to be a milestone in making a 'TB-mukt Bharat' and it will have a far-reaching impact," Nadda said.
Nadda during the event recalled the times when India faced the dark days of TB, which meant 'slow death'. Even family members suffering from TB were isolated to prevent the spread.
"Since 1962, there have been many campaigns against tuberculosis, but in 2018 the prime minister put forth a vision to end TB much before the 2030 deadline of the Sustainable Development Goals," he said.
The use of new technologies in the field has also aided in reducing TB cases. Molecular technologies were introduced for TB detection.
Compared to the 120 laboratories in 2014 for TB detection, India has now 8,293 such centres.
The rate of tuberculosis incidence decline in India has doubled from 8.3 per cent in 2015 to 17.7 per cent now, which is much ahead of the global average, Nadda said.
Even deaths due to tuberculosis have also reduced significantly in India by 21.4 per cent in the last 10 years, he said.
The key focus of the 100-day campaign includes increasing access to advanced diagnostics, targeted screening among vulnerable groups, specialized care for high-risk individuals, and provision of expanded nutritional support.