Tribal TB Initiative is launched for a ‘TB Mukt Bharat’

Union Ministry for Health and Family Welfare launched the “Tribal TB Initiative” to fulfill the vision of ‘TB Mukt Bharat’.

Context

Union Ministry for Health and Family Welfare launched the “Tribal TB Initiative” to fulfill the vision of ‘TB Mukt Bharat’.

Tribal TB Initiative will focus on 161 districts across 18 identified States. This would involve-
deploying improved vulnerability mapping techniques
organization of the sensitization and capacity building workshops for the volunteers
periodical TB active case finding drives
provision of TB Preventive Therapy (IPT) for the identified vulnerable population
development of long term mechanisms for the vulnerability reduction
Web-portal: It also involved the linking of NIKSHAY Portal of MoHFW and Swasthya Portal of the M/o Tribal Affairs.
It will help to boost data compilation of TB and will pave way for efficient and convergent actions.

Target-based approach:India has set a target for the complete elimination of Tuberculosis (TB) by 2025 which is five years ahead of the global target of 2030.
Increased allocation: The government has increased the Budget allocation for TB up-to a four-fold in the last 5 years.
Health initiatives: High-quality drugs, diagnostics, digital initiatives, innovative private sector interventions, and community engagement intervention.
Achievements: The UT of Lakshadweep and the district of Badgam in Jammu & Kashmir have been declared TB Free on World TB Day.
International initiatives
End TB strategy: It has been initiated by WHO.
- It aims to end the global TB epidemic, with targets to reduce TB deaths by 95% and to cut new cases by 90% between 2015 and 2035, andto ensure that no family is burdened with catastrophic expenses due to TB.
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): It includes ending the TB epidemic by 2030 under Goal 3. It provides for a unified response to end TB deaths, disease, and suffering.