Health Minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat Directs Officials to Ensure Better Treatment for Every TB Patient
Dehradun, December 8, 2024
Under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Program, efforts to identify TB patients in Uttarakhand have been intensified. Soon, mobile testing vans will be introduced in five plains districts of the state to conduct door-to-door sputum tests for TB patients. Those testing positive will be immediately connected to treatment.
Health and Medical Education Minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat stated that the state is working at a war footing under the program to diagnose and treat TB patients.
Key Highlights of the Initiative:
- Mobile Testing Vans:
The state plans to introduce mobile tuberculosis testing vans in Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode. These vans will cover Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar, Champawat, Nainital, and Dehradun districts, offering services like CB-Net machines and sputum testing. - Strategic Route Plan:
To maximize reach, a route plan will be prepared, and district Chief Medical Officers will regularly monitor the program’s implementation. - Current Progress:
Uttarakhand ranks among the leading states in TB elimination in India. Under the PM TB-Free India Campaign, 10,705 Nikshay Mitras (TB caregivers) have supported 23,819 TB patients. Of these, 14,948 have already received assistance, while 8,871 are currently being helped. - TB-Free Panchayats:
The state has made significant progress in eliminating TB, with approximately 3,200 villages across 1,424 gram panchayats being declared TB-free by the Government of India.
