NEW DELHI: Indian President Droupadi Murmu on Friday, September 9,  launched an anti-TB campaign and urged the people to unitedly strive towards eradicating Tuberculosis (TB) from India by 2025.

 while launching the 'Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan' campaign President Murmu said: "When a welfare scheme is made in the interest of people, chances of its success increase manifold." The President also announced the Ni-kshay Mitra initiative to provide additional diagnostic, nutritional, and employment support to those receiving TB treatment, and he urged elected officials, corporates, non-profit organisations, and individuals to step forward as donors to aid the patients in completing their road to recovery. The Ni-kshay 2.0 portal will help in enhancing community involvement in reaching India's pledge to eradicate TB by 2025, offering more patient assistance to improve treatment outcomes for TB patients, and utilising Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) opportunities.
Along with other dignitaries, Union Ministers, Governors and Lt. Governors, State Health Ministers, and Minister of State for Health Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar were present at the inauguration event.

The virtual event reaffirmed India's commitment to eradicate the high-burden infectious disease by 2025, five years ahead of the global goal of 2030, and was also attended by state and district health administrations, representatives from corporates, industries, civil society, NGOs, and TB Champions.

The virtual launch ceremony highlighted India's National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) progress, which has accelerated due to high-level commitment. The President stressed the need for adopting a similar all-encompassing strategy to eradicate TB from the nation while praising the persistent efforts of the healthcare professionals, community leaders, and residents in handling the COVID-19 outbreak.

President Murmu reaffirmed the need for universal healthcare, ensuring that everyone has access to cost-effective, high-quality medical treatment at all levels of the healthcare system. She expressed confidence in the crucial role the enhanced healthcare system will play in accomplishing the aim of TB elimination while highlighting the advancements made under the Ayushman Bharat scheme in this endeavour. She emphasised the need for greater understanding of TB treatment options because the illness is treatable. At government hospitals, the therapy is provided without charge.
The Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, according to Mansukh Mandaviya, "is a continuation of Prime Minister's citizen-centric policy." He attributed success of the TB programme on key indicators such as TB case notifications and consistent efforts that led to monthly notification reporting to reach pre-pandemic levels by end of 2021.

The Union Health Minister emphasised that a 360-degree approach is the foundation for TB eradication in India and noted that in order to reach the lofty goal of eradicating TB by 2025, a social approach that unites people from all backgrounds into a Jan Andolan is required.

Approximately 13.5 lakh TB patients are enrolled in the Nikshay portal, of which 8.9 lakh active TB patients have given their consent for adoption, according to Mandaviya. The Ni-kshay digital portal will offer a venue for TB patients to receive community assistance.

He urged all NGOs,  citizens, corporate houses, elected representatives etc, to support the movement by becoming Ni-kshay Mitras and convene gatherings to discuss the initiative, so no one with TB is left behind.

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