Dr.J Alam administering ‘TB Mukt Bharat Pledge’ during a meeting at Civil secretariat conference hall on Monday. (NP)
Dr. J. Alam, the state chief secretary, has urged all stakeholders to collaborate in the fight against tuberculosis (TB) in accordance with the Centre’s objective to eradicate the disease in India by 2025, five years prior to the global 2030 target.
At the civil secretariat conference hall on Monday, the chief secretary issued a clarion call to the Additional Heads of Departments (AHoDs) and Heads of Departments (HoDs) during a meeting on the 100-day TB campaign in collaboration with all line departments of Nagaland to eradicate TB under the theme “TB Mukt Bharat.”.
Alam stated in his introductory remarks that the 100-day TB elimination campaign, which was initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been ongoing throughout the nation.
He stated that a total of 347 districts were selected throughout the nation, with three districts in Nagaland—Kohima, Mon, and Wokha—categorized as high-incidence districts. These districts were included in the campaign.
He encouraged all line departments to implement the necessary intensive outreach and awareness initiatives to ensure the success of the TB elimination campaign. Alam also requested that all deputy commissioners (DCs) conduct a comprehensive review meeting and include all civil society groups, church leaders, and other influential individuals in the committee to develop strategies for a successful campaign and to achieve the desired outcomes.
He underscored that the initiative’s success necessitated the combined efforts of all stakeholders in the state. Alam also underscored the significance of early detection, effective outreach, and the availability of free treatment in order to promote public awareness and participation.
During the meeting, Anoop Khinchi, the commission and secretary of Health and Family Welfare, stated that tuberculosis (TB) continues to be the most significant public health challenge in India and is responsible for the highest number of fatalities among all infectious diseases. He stated that Nagaland has approximately 3843 TB patients, and an estimated 28 lakh new cases occur annually across the country, contributing to 26% of the global burden on the poorest segment of society.
Anoop Kinchi emphasized that tuberculosis (TB) is the most lethal of all infectious diseases, resulting in the loss of 3.5 lakh lives annually in India at a rate of 1300 fatalities per day. He emphasized the bidirectional relationship between TB and undernutrition.
He stated that undernutrition was associated with an elevated risk of developing tuberculosis, and that tuberculosis exacerbated undernutrition by causing tissue disintegration. Anoop stated that there was evidence to suggest that treating undernutrition among TB patients enhances the response to treatment, reduces mortality, and improves long-term treatment outcomes. He stated that the immune system is fortified by a well-balanced diet, which leads to the infection’s disintegration prior to its progression to tuberculosis.
The President of India initiated the “Pradhan Mantri TB Mukta Bharat Abhiyaan,” also known as the Nikshay Mitra Doner campaign, on September 9, 2022, as he informed.
He stated that the campaign has garnered significant support from all segments of society and has become the world’s largest crowdsourcing initiative for nutritional support.
He stated that the Centre was providing Rs. 1000 per month during the treatment period under the Nikshay Poshan Yojana, and Nikshay Mitra would provide additional support.
Anoop Kinchi also stated that the stratified 100-day campaign was initiated on December 7, 2024, with the objective of reducing the number of TB fatalities and preventing the development of new TB cases.
He also stated that the campaign will result in heightened case detection, increased coverage of nutrition interventions, and increased community awareness of the importance of early detection and complete treatment of tuberculosis(TB).
Anoop stated that the community’s active involvement would not only aid in the dissemination of awareness but also expedite the fight against the stigma associated with it.
Additionally, he encouraged all line departments to lend their support to the nationwide campaign and concentrate on enhancing collaborative efforts to eradicate tuberculosis in Nagaland.
Dr. Vezokholu Theyo, the state TB officer of the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP), delivered a PowerPoint presentation on the 100-day campaign overview on TB. He stated that India has the highest estimated burden of tuberculosis infection (TBI) globally, with nearly 35-40 crore Indian population having TBI. Also, she emphasized that the risk of tuberculosis.
Theyo reported that the TB incidence rate (per lakh population) has decreased from 237 in 2015 to 195 in 2023. Additionally, she provided information regarding the Ni-kshay Sapthah to all departments from January 27 to February 2, 2025. The chief secretary administered the TB Mukt Bharat pledge during the meeting.
