Health Ministry launches ‘TB Harega Desh Jeetega’ campaign
In an effort to reach out to every tuberculosis (TB) patient in the country, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched ‘TB Harega, Desh Jeetega’ campaign in New Delhi. Along with the campaign government also launched ‘National TB Prevalence Survey’, the country’s largest-ever conducted TB prevalence survey.
The government initiatives are in line with country’s intended target of becoming TB-free India before 2025. The global target to eliminate TB worldwide is 2030.
About ‘TB Harega Desh Jeetega’ Campaign
The campaign will work on 3 pillars-
- Clinical approach
- Public health component
- Active community participation
The supporting aspect of campaign includes- patient support, private sector engagement, political and administrative commitment at all levels.
The government will ensure that all patients, at private/public hospitals, receive free-of-cost and high-quality TB care.
Other Government Initiatives for TB
According to TB India report 2019, 21.5 lakh cases of TB were notified to Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) in 2018. It showed a 16% increase from 2017, which is the highest so far.
Under the National Strategic Plan for ending TB (NSP 2017-25), the RNTCP is strengthening private sector engagement so as to increase the reach to more TB patients, improve access to TB care and provide incentives to doctors for notifying TB patients and treatment outcomes.
Under Nikshay Poshan Yojana (NPY) TB patients are given Rs.500 per month for nutritional assistance during the TB treatment. Since April 2018, over 20.8 lakh beneficiaries have received benefits worth Rs.427 crore under NPY. In September 2018 72% of all TB patients in aspirational districts of India were covered for health-related interventions, compared to a target of 100%.
National level committee had been formed that included membership from 17 ministries and also, department of post and department of financial services have supported expansion of TB services across the country.
Related Posts
Month: Current Affairs - September, 2019