Bhubaneswar: In a significant step towards eliminating tuberculosis (TB), Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Mukesh Mahaling on Saturday launched the “100-Day Intensified TB Campaign” in Odisha. The campaign aims to combat TB incidence and mortality, focusing on 19 districts of the state.
Dr. Mahaling highlighted the government’s commitment to achieving Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s target of ending TB in India by 2025. The national goals include reducing TB incidence by 80%, TB mortality by 90%, and eliminating catastrophic expenditure for affected families, compared to 2015 baselines.
As part of the campaign, the minister unveiled advocacy and information, education, and communication (IEC) materials to promote awareness about TB prevention and treatment. He appealed to the public to unite for a “TB Mukt Odisha” and “TB Mukt Bharat.”
The event also saw the launch of the Ni-kshay Vahan, a fleet of vehicles designed to improve access to diagnostics, screening, and treatment in remote areas. The Ni-kshay Mitra program will provide nutritional support to TB patients and their families while focusing on high-risk individuals.
The 100-day Active Case Finding (ACF) initiative will prioritize TB detection, reduce delays in diagnosis, and improve treatment outcomes. This campaign aligns with the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP), emphasizing equitable access to services and reducing transmission in underserved communities.
The campaign will be implemented in districts such as Balangir, Bargarh, Bhadrak, Boudh, Cuttack, Deogarh, Ganjam, Jagatsinghpur, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Kendrapara, Keonjhar, Koraput, Malkangiri, Mayurbhanj, Puri, Rayagada, Subarnapur, and Sundargarh.
Incentives for community involvement include financial rewards for ASHAs, who will receive ₹100 for referring presumptive TB cases and ₹500 for confirmed cases. TB patients receive ₹1,000 per month under the Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana.
TB Champions Arjun Charan Nath and Sasmita Patra were felicitated for their contributions to community engagement in TB elimination.
Director of Health Services Dr. Bijay Kumar Mohapatra welcomed attendees, while Mission Director of National Health Mission (NHM) Dr. Brundha D emphasized the importance of protein-rich foods for TB patients. Director of Public Health Dr. Nilakantha Mishra delivered the vote of thanks, concluding the State-level inauguration event attended by senior officials, stakeholders, and TB champions.
