Union Health Minister J P Nadda asserted on Thursday that India is very close to achieving the goal of eliminating tuberculosis as he launched the Joint Squad for Health (JOSH) teams that will bring together more than 58,000 youth volunteers to strengthen grassroots mobilisation in the fight against the disease. Highlighting India’s progress, he noted that the country’s tuberculosis incidence has declined by 21 per cent compared with a 12 per cent global decline, while treatment coverage has reached 92 per cent against 78 per cent globally, calling for a last push to achieve the TB-free India goal.
Speaking at the national launch of the initiative at Bharat Mandapam, Nadda stated that today is a very historic day on which they are launching the JOSH team, emphasizing that they have reached very close to the target and need to give the last push. He mentioned that the government has involved MPs, MLAs, mayors, and councillors in the elimination campaign through workshops and other programmes, but stressed that the effort cannot succeed without the participation of volunteers and grassroots workers.
Nadda explained that the JOSH initiative was developed in discussions with Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth, with the active participation of the Sports and Defence ministries. These teams will bring together My Bharat volunteers and NCC cadets to work at the grassroots level and strengthen community participation in the campaign. Noting that they do not want to confine the campaign within boundaries, he called for the government, communities, and citizens to work together, adding that the campaign will go beyond preventive measures and awareness to focus on screening, diagnosis, treatment, community participation, active case finding, and the identification of asymptomatic tuberculosis patients.
Highlighting technological advancements, Nadda pointed out the use of handheld X-ray machines equipped with artificial intelligence tools to help identify people who need further testing, alongside molecular testing which can detect the disease and identify whether a patient has drug-resistant tuberculosis. Reassuring that tuberculosis is not an incurable disease, he highlighted the shorter BPaLM regimen for drug-resistant cases, under which treatment can be completed in six months.
The minister urged volunteers to work closely with Nikshay volunteers, activists, and Mitras to ensure patients receive medicines and nutritional support. He noted that the government provides Rs 1,000 per month to every tuberculosis patient, besides nutritional support and free medicines, adding that their current work is to detect cases, connect patients to medicines, and ensure they receive both medication and nutrition.
Nadda said that the teams have been given a pilot task covering all blocks in 55 districts across 11 states, with their activities to be recorded in real time through a new feature on the TB Mukt Bharat app that allows digital monitoring by Class-I officers. He also shared that 67,933 gram panchayats have already been declared tuberculosis-free, crediting elected representatives, volunteers, and community members for this achievement.
(PTI Inputs)
