Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on September 25, 2019, launched ‘TB Harega Desh Jeetega Campaign’ along with the National TB Prevalence Survey in New Delhi. Multi-stakeholder and community participation shall form the pivot of the countrywide campaign.
“As part of our commitment to end-TB, we have established patient forums in over 95 per cent of all districts in the first 100 days, which clearly shows our strong commitment to eradicating TB in the shortest time. These district forums will bring the voices of the affected to the fore and highlight on-ground challenges facing the patients and their families in accessing TB care services,” Dr Vardhan stated.
The Union Health Minister also flagged off a van for the National TB Prevalence Survey. Twenty-five such vans will be part of the prevalence survey, which shall take 6 months and be carried out across the country. This shall present national and state level data, which will be used as a policy tool for further interventions.
Dr Vardhan also released the TB India Report (2019), the Work Place Policy Framework for TB, Operational Guideline for Employer Led Model on TB, Training module for transforming TB survivor to TB champion, and Elected Representative’s Handbook on TB, according to a PIB release.
In addition to these, as an important step, the Union Health Minister also launched an all oral regimen kit for multi-drug resistant TB patients which does not include injections which are painful and can have side effects. He also announced a partnership with the World Bank which is providing a $400 million credit for accelerating TB response in 9 states through private sector engagement and other critical interventions. Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of State (HFW), was also present at the launch of the campaign.
Highlighting some of the key features of the new TB control campaign, Dr Vardhan stated its three strong pillars include clinical approach, public health component, and active community participation. Other supporting elements of the campaign comprise private sector engagement, patient support, and political and administrative commitment at all levels. He added that the Government is committed to ensuring all patients, irrespective of where they seek care (private sector included), receive free-of-cost, high quality TB care. “In line with the Prime Minister’s vision, we have introduced pivotal initiatives that are changing the way we diagnose, treat and prevent TB, and are on track to achieving our target of a TB-free India by 2025, much ahead of the global target of 2030,” he said.
Dr Vardhan said that we have now more than 300 TB Champions in the TB programme. He applauded the courage of Ms Chinmayi from Odisha who narrated her story of fighting brain TB, and how she turned into a strong advocate and supporter for efforts for TB control. “TB survivors like Chinmayi and many others who have shown exemplary courage to follow the course of treatment, should be given the opportunity to lead the way,” he said.
Dr Vardhan also awarded states for their excellent performance in tackling TB. Among states with a large population (>50 lakhs), Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat were awarded as best performers, while Tripura and Sikkim were recognised for their efforts among medium population (less than 50 lakhs) states. Puducherry, and Daman and Diu were judged as the best performers among Union Territories.