India will eradicate TB by 2025 : Govt

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : Preeti Sudan, Secretary (Health), Government of India, on March 24, 2018, said India is already aligned with world TB treatment protocols. It has to a mission to eradicate TB by 2025 through community participation involving civil societies and other stakeholders, she said at afunction here on the occasion of ‘World TB Day’.

The Union Health Secretary said, ” The global target to eradicate TB is 2030 but we will end it by 2025. This is a tall order but I am confident that if we all work together, if all the partners combine together and we ensure full treatment is given on regular basis, we can show the world this can be achieved. I am confident of this and my confidence is backed by our success in eradicating Polio,” Ms Preeti Sudan added.

The Health Secretary also released the TB India 2018 Report and National Drug Resistance Survey Report. She also launched the Nikshay Aushadi Portal and shorter regimen for Drug Resistant TB.

She commended a TB warrior, Suman, a graduate student who narrated his experience living with TB. The Health Secretary stated that early identification and complete treatment of TB is a key to achieving the goal of TB elimination. ” We need many TB warriors like Suman to fight against this disease and spread positive message across the communities to burst the myths and misconceptions around TB,” she stated.

The Health Secretary further stated that the Prime Minister has called for ‘TB Mukth Bharat’ which can only possible if we ensure our panchayats and blocks are declared TB free.  “For that the Government has adequately provisioned drugs and diagnostic in every part of the country,” she added.