A meeting of the Additional Heads of Departments (AHODs) and Heads of Departments (HODs)on observation of the 100-Day Tuberculosis (TB) Campaign in collaboration with various departments in Nagaland was held at the Secretariat Conference Hall on January 27.
Chief Secretary of Nagaland, Dr. J. Alam, IAS, in his opening remark highlighted that the 100 day TB elimination campaign has been launched by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi across the country targeting 347 high-priority districts across 33 states and union territories.
In Nagaland, the focus is on Kohima, Mon, and Wokha districts. Dr. Alam emphasized that the success of the initiative requires the collective efforts of all stakeholders in the state. He also underlined the importance of early detection, free treatment availability, and effective outreach to ensure public awareness and participation.
Commissioner and Secretary, Health and family welfare Anoop Kinchi , IAS stated that Tuberculosis (TB) remains India’s biggest public health challenge with estimated 28 lakhs new cases occurring annually contributing to 26 percent of global burden mostly poor section of the society.
He highlighted that Nagaland has about 3943 TB patients and 2744 on treatment, that is 34 percent. He also highlighted that the Government of India has committed to end TB by 2025 in the country, ahead of the SDG targets. Kinchi mentioned that TB causes the largest number of deaths among all the infectious diseases and every year 3.5 lakh people die of TB in India, that is 1300 deaths every day .
He highlighted that under-nutrition and TB share bidirectional relationship where undernutrition increases the risk of development of TB and TB leads to worsening of under nutrition due to tissue breakdown. “There is evidence that addressing the undernutrition among the TB patients improves response to the treatment, reduces mortality and improves long term treatment outcomes. Good and balanced nutrition strengthens the immune system which results in breakdown of the infection before it converts to TB,” stated Kinchi.
Detailing in the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukta Bharat Abhiyaan (PMTBMBA) also known as the the Nikshay Mitra Doner campaign, Kinchi stated that it has become the worlds largest crowd sourcing initiative for nutritional support and has received tremendous support from all sections of the society.
Under the campaign, the community is encouraged to adopt TB patients and support in terms of nutritional support, supplements, additional investigations for 6 months at the rate of Rs.500 per month which ensures period of the treatment success rate at 85 percent. Further, under the Nikshay Poshan Yojana, the GOI provides Rs. 1000 per month during the treatment period and through Nikshay Mitra an additional support.
A stratified 100 day campaign approach to finding missing cases, reducing TB deaths and prevention of new TB cases was launched on December 7, 2024, mentioned Kinchi. This, according to the Commissioner and Secretary, entails increased case detection, increased coverage of nutrition interventions and increased awareness in the community towards early detection and complete treatment of TB which is being implemented in three high focus districts of Kohima ,Mon and Wokha.
“Active participation by community will help in spreading awareness but also accelerate fight against the stigma attached with it. Active participation of all and timely support in this nation wide campaign is very crucial and the partnership with the Department will largely focus on strengthening collaborative,” said Kinchi appealing for collective support for elimination of TB with the start of Nikshay Saptah on January 27.
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He suggested the following activities to be conducted in departments: Display of IEC material in all offices; Awareness generation of all staff on TB, Dissemination of TB messages through various platforms; Register Nikshay Mitra from various organizations, Screening of TB; Specific Activities in concerned Departments.
Kinchi also asserted that there is a need to create awareness on the treatable and preventable aspects of the disease as well as its and effectiveness and affordability in the government hospitals.
Dr Vezokholu Theyo, State TB Officer, National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) presented a 100 days campaign overview, where she stated that India has the highest estimated burden of tuberculosis infection (TBI) globally, with nearly 35-40 crore Indian population having TBI, of which 28 lakh (18-36 lakh) are estimated to develop tuberculosis (TB) disease annually and 5–10% of those infected will develop TB disease over the course of their lives, usually within the first 2 years after initial infection
The risk for TB disease after infection and the TB incidence rate were also highlighted where Theyo mentioned that the TB incidence rate ( per lakh population) has decreased from 237 (in 2015) to 195 ( in 2023). The target is to reach to 47 and the TB death rate ( per lakh population) has decreased from 28 (in 2015) to 22 ( in 2023), the target is to reach to, informed Theyo. She also briefed about the Nikshay Sapthah in all different departments during January 27 to February 2, 2025.
Chief Secretary, Dr J Alam, IAS earlier administered the TB Mukt Bharat pledge.
