New Delhi : On September 9, 2022 President Droupadi Murmu launched Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan for completely eradicating Tuberculosis from India. Under the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan the Nikshay Mitra aspect paves the way for this community support system as India inches closer to the target date of eradicating TB by 2025, five years ahead of the SDG deadline. Individuals, non-profits, institutions and corporations can now “adopt” tuberculosis (TB) patients to support their nutritional needs, additional diagnostics and vocational training.
“The Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan has been envisioned to bring together all community stakeholders to support those on TB treatment and accelerate the country’s progress towards TB elimination,” the health ministry noted.
The Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya will adopt 15 of the 87 patients who have given their consent in his home town Palitana in Gujarat, according to news agency Press Trust of India (PTI). Of the 1,351,611 TB patients currently receiving treatment in India, some 895,119 have given their consent to be adopted as of September 7, the PTI report noted, citing official sources. This figure includes multi-drug-resistant TB patients as well.