Govt aims to make state TB-free by 2021

The government has set a target to make the state TB-free by 2021.

This was revealed by public health experts on the sidelines of a three-day international seminar on “Universal Health Coverage–Igniting Change and Innovation in Health”, which started at Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMC). The symposium is being organised by the Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine (IAPSM).

The IAPSM had teamed up with the government health agencies to make the country TB-free by 2022 and bringing down malnutrition level to 25 per cent under Mission 25/2022 that would go a long way in achieving a higher level of universal health in the country.

Himachal Pradesh, on the other hand, had targeted to make the state TB-free by 2021 and bringing down the stunting growth and malnutrition level to 15 per cent, respectively. These targets would make Himachal, which at present is at 5th place, rub its shoulder with the top-ranking Kerala in universal health coverage.

Dr Ashok Bhardwaj, chairman, IAPSM conference-2019, said, “The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Ministry of Women and Child Development have constituted a task force to rid the country of TB and malnutrition under Mission 25/2022. IAPSM which has 6,000 members has teamed up with the government agencies to help achieve these targets.”

Dr Bhardwaj, who is in charge of eight northern states, said Himachal had detected highest number of new TB patients by launching the statewide drive by conducting over 1.3 lakh tests. “It, however, does not mean it has higher prevalence rate. This drive aims at making the state TB-free by 2021 as the state has allocated extra Rs 2 crore for this and can compete with Kerala,” he explained.

Govt. is taking preventive and protective measures at primary, secondary and tertiary levels for both prevention and health promotion to achieve public health targets.”

The organisation was acting like an NGO with the Central task force to achieve the TB and malnutrition targets by pooling efforts of all medical colleges. “About 1,300 public experts from India and 35 countries are participating in exchange ideas on public health to give shape to the endeavour,”.